Tarlac LGU: Blocking Ninoy’s monument during Marcos rally ‘unintentional’
MANILA---The blocking of the monument of late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. during a campaign event of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was unintentional, the City of Government Tarlac said Monday, April 4, 2022.
Tarlac City Administrator Numer Lobo, in a statement, denied any intention to disrespect the memory of Aquino, a political opponent and critic of Marcos’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Lobo said the tent was originally placed at a considerable distance from the monument but it was moved by the people who attended the event while trying to find shade from the heat of the sun.
“The incident was inadvertent, nothing intentional,” he said.
“It is just unfortunate that despite the wide range of platforms discussed and delivered by the candidates present and the overwhelming reception and welcome to the UniTeam, others just chose to spread divisiveness and highlighted this unintended and unintentional incident, which is not reflective of the whole event and contradictory to its message of hope, positivity and unity,” he added.
Photos of the Aquino statue partly covered by a tent during the UniTeam rally on Saturday, April 2, drew negative comments after they were shared on social media. Some netizens regarded it disrespectful to the memory of Aquino, who has been considered a democracy icon.
On Sunday, April 3, a day after the rally, some Tarlac residents offered some flowers and wreaths at the statue to show respect.
Aquino’s monument was erected at the Tarlac City Plazuela to remember him. Tarlac is the home province of Aqui no.
Aquino, a known critic of Marcos Sr., was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon arrival at the Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) after his exile in the United States.
His death sparked protests that led to the first Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986 that ended the Martial Law regime and catapulted Aquino’s wife, Cory, to the presidency. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo with LMY/ SunStar Philippines)