Exactly 32 years ago, our nation showed the world how peaceful change can come about, how honorable it was to topple a dictator, how beautiful it was to see a united people.
In EDSA, the rich and the poor were one. No one went hungry, no one was above any other. The multiplication of bread was a miracle witnessed by thousands. Regardless of rank, class, gender, or age, everyone in EDSA during those historic days of February 1986 stood equal, side-by-side ready for any eventuality, even death and imprisonment in exchange for freedom and truth.
The religious with their rosaries in front of tanks, roses for gun-wielding soldiers, ordinary people keeping order and managing traffic out where the millions were gathered -those were proud moments for our people, for our country- nagkaisa, handog ng Pilipino sa mundo!
This week, once again, Filipinos will march to EDSA and elsewhere throughout this nation for these six key issues that need national reflection and action, and divine intervention too, please.
1.) JUSTICE for the victims of extra judicial killings. Varying interpretations and estimates have been given. The Philippine National Police assert that 3,968 drug suspects died in “legitimate police operations” from July 2016 to January 17, 2018. The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and the International Drug Policy Consortium, media outlets including the Sydney Morning Herald, estimate more than 12,000 drug related deaths while the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines estimate that there have been more than 13,000 killings linked to the anti-drug campaign. Hence, this weekend’s Walk for Life -no one deserves to be killed without the benefit of law and justice.
2.) TRUTH in the midst of so much lies and fake news. Rappler reporter Pia Ranada is banned from “Duterte’s home” because she and Rappler report fake news, according to Spokesperson Roque. Can they list all the fake news they are accusing Rappler of? In response, will the public and legitimate media list all the fake news that Duterte, Roque, and their kind have spread from “their” palace and through their troll-dominated social media?
3.) TRUTH in the midst of all questionable, even unfounded charges they have hurled against Duterte’s dissenters. Not only are the charges fabricated, the shameless misinterpretation and practice of the rule of law has, regrettably, become the norm among abusive lawmakers.
4.) HUMAN RIGHTS for all, not for a protected, favored powerful and their supporters. Only poor drug addicts have been killed in Duterte’s drug war, not the big players, not the drug lords, smugglers or dealers. Dissenters are deprived of press freedom. Curses, bullying, and threats, including death threats, are committed against those who criticize Duterte and his government.
5.) A CONSTITUTION for the Filipinos, not for politicians who want to remain in power. Why the rush towards federalism? Former CJ Puno was reported to have said that the Filipinos had earlier on decided in favor of federalism when they voted Duterte as president. Excuse us, CJ Puno, only 36.6% of voters voted Duterte. About 61.4% strong did not vote for Duterte. Going by your logic then, more Filipinos are not in favor of federalism! Are you also not supposed to come up with a well-thought of proposal for federalism that will be pro-Filipino and not pro-Duterte and his minions? You prematurely showed your bias. Perhaps you should inhibit yourself and resign from the supposed-to-be “objective charter commission?”
6.) SOVEREIGNTY, protecting our power and independence as a nation. Why is Duterte kowtowing to China, allowing China to build infrastructures on our national territory or to conduct research and give names to resources in our Benham Rise? What does China have over Duterte -why is he even joking about our country becoming a province of China?
There are more issues to march for, to fight for now under Duterte than under his idol, the ousted dictator Marcos. Will the heavens once more hear the pleas of the Filipinos about these issues soon, this February?