Ninoy and Duterte
I THOUGHT Aug. 21 would come without even a squeak from Malacañang. Former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the man whose martyrdom was the reason that day was declared a holiday nationwide is, after all, the father of President Rodrigo Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, leader of the Liberal Party (LP) that Duterte’s online trolls derisively call “dilaw.”
There is no love lost between the incumbent and the former president. “History is witness to how Ninoy’s work as a journalist and a politician drove him to effect positive and meaningful changes in our society.
Throughout his career, he fought for what is right and just.
Up until the very end of his life, he inspired a peaceful revolution that resulted into the liberties we enjoy today,” read a part of the President’s statement, which made the following call: “May this year’s commemoration continue to strengthen his legacy of promoting solidarity and patriotism among our people especially in these troubling times.
Through his words of wisdom, let us reflect on his life and realize that, indeed, the Filipino is worth dying for.” It would have been good if the message was given extemporaneously. We would have known better what really is his sentiment with regards to the late senator, whose martyrdom sparked three years later the Edsa People Power uprising.
But that he allowed Malacañang to release the statement means he agreed with its content— so that’s good enough. Thirty-four years ago now seems to be a blur in our recent history. Ninoy was a victim of the ultra-rightist seizure by Ferdinand Marcos of political power and fought it the only way he could, as a politician (though not in a “trapo” sense).
He was accused of being, at the least, a communist sympathizer but he never advocated a revolution despite all the torments he endured. He chose the path of peace and ended up dying violently in the tarmac of the airport that now bears his name.
For a while, his death did make a difference as the protests that carried progressive and liberal messages, among them the advancement of people’s rights. During the Marcos years, warrantless arrests, the torture of detained suspects and summary execution, then called “salvaging” was the norm.
No wonder that after Marcos was ousted and Ninoy’s wife Cory was catapulted to the presidency, the constitution that she put in place had a provision creating the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Fast forward to now and the word “salvaging” has been replaced with a new term, extra-judicial killing (EJK), which actually amounts to the same thing although the targets were differen t .
Those killed under Marcos were labeled as insurgents while those that are dying now are being accused of having links with the illegal drugs trade. After only a little more than three decades, the “Never again!” mantra has sounded hollow. It would be a stretch to say, though, that Duterte is the new Marcos, Ninoy’s tormentor.
To be fair, Duterte has not exhibited the lust for power that Marcos had in his two-decade rule. I am still hoping that he would eventually realize that the path he is treading, especially in his war against illegal drugs, is not the best one for our country.