Liberal Party, Akbayan: 40 years after EDSA, fight for democracy not yet over

The Liberal Party (LP) on Wednesday called for continued, relentless efforts to restore true democracy as it marked the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

“Apat na dekada na ang lumipas mula nang tumindig ang mga Pilipino laban sa isang diktador. Isang pangyayaring ikinagulat, sinundan, at hinangaan ng mundo. Naging laman ng mga balita. Isinulat sa mga aklat ng kasaysayan. Naging inspirasyon ng mga pelikula, dula, awit, at likhang-sining,” the LP said in a statement.

(Four decades have passed since Filipinos stood up against a dictator. An event that shocked the world and was admired and emulated. We were in the news, recorded in history books. We became an inspiration for movies, plays, songs, and the arts.)

“Ngayon, tila isang malayong alaala ang EDSA para sa ilan. Pinagtatalunan pa kung dapat pa itong ipagdiwang. Marcos muli ang apelyido ng Pangulo. At may mga politikong naghahangad ng pinakamataas na posisyon sa bansa habang dala ang pulitikang taliwas sa diwa ng pananagutan at paggalang sa mga institusyon,” it went on.

(Now, EDSA seems a distant memory. There is even a debate if it is still worth remembering. Our President is again, a Marcos, and some politicians seek the presidency while opposing accountability and respect for our institutions.)

“Hindi ito kabiguan ng EDSA. Pinatitingkad lamang nito ang katotohanang ito: Hindi natapos ang pagtatayo ng demokrasya sa pagpapatalsik sa isang diktador,” the LP added.

(These are not due to the failure of EDSA People Power. It only reminds us that restoring democracy does not end with ousting a dictator.)

The LP lamented that four decades after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, the country has yet to attain full justice.

“May mga institusyong kailangan pang paghilumin at patibayin. May mga puwang sa pananagutan na kailangan pang punan. At bawat taon, may bagong hamon sa kalayaan – mas sopistikado, mas maingay, mas tuso,” it said.

(Our institutions are still healing and still needs strengthening. There are a lot of gaps waiting to be filled. And every year, there is a new challenge to our freedom, and these are sophisticated, loud and cunning.)

The LP added that the enemies of democracy constantly changed face, hence the people’s responses should also evolve.

“Ito ang kuwenta ng kuwento ng EDSA sa ika-40 taon: Kaya nating gawin ang tila imposible kung malinaw ang ating layunin at matatag ang ating pagkakaisa. Nagawa natin ito noon laban sa isang diktadura,” the party pointed out.

(This is the story of EDSA on its 40th year: We can still do the seemingly impossible if we have clear goals and are united. We did it before against a dictator.)

“Nagpapatuloy ang laban para sa demokrasya. Hindi sapat ang pag-alala. Kinakailangan ang pagkilos. At tulad noong 1986, nakasalalay ito sa tapang ng mga Pilipinong hindi pasisiil, kahit kailan, sa mga manlulupig,” it added.

(The fight for democracy lives on. It is not enough to remember. We need to take action, and just like in 1986, it all depends on Filipinos who will resist oppression.)

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a bloodless uprising that ousted then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a separate statement, the Akbayan Party-list said the 40th anniversary of the bloodless revolution renewed the fight against massive corruption and dynastic rule.

During the Trillion Peso March on Wednesday, Akbayan President Rafaela David called for an “electoral revolution” to end political dynasties in the Philippines.

“We need to stop the revolving door of authoritarianism and elite plunder. If 1986 was about reclaiming our democracy, 2028 must be about reclaiming our future,” she said.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, for his part, urged Congress to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law that would democratize elections and fulfill one of EDSA’s promises.

“The abolition of political dynasties is a long-delayed task of EDSA. Forty years since the February People Power Revolution, it is time to end their control over our democracy and economy. Kung walang dinastiya, mas tunay ang demokrasya at mas maunlad ang ekonomiya (Without dynasties, we will have a genuine democracy and a prosperous economy),” Cendaña said.

The 40th year commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution had the theme, “Trillion Peso March Part 3: Tayo ang People Power Laban sa Korapsyon at Dinastiya Noon, Ngayon, Bukas.”

The event was organized by the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network (BAPP) and the Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian (SIKLAB), with support from Caritas Philippines.

Among those who attended were Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David; Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of democracy icons Ninoy and Cory Aquino; Akbayan Party-lis Rep. Chel Diokno, Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, economist and EDSA veteran Winnie Monsod; former public officials Edwin Lacierda, Barry Gutierrez, Cielo Magno, and Ronald Llamas; youth leader Khylla Meneses of Youth Against Kurakot (YAK) and students from various colleges and universities. — JMA, GMA Integrated News