Protesters call for Marcos, Duterte accountability on 39th EDSA People Power anniversary

Metro Manila, Philippines - Protesters called for accountability on the part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and impeached Vice President Sara Duterte as they commemorated the 39th People Power anniversary on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

They slammed questionable confidential funds of Duterte and economic crises under the Marcos administration. They also hit the alleged extrajudicial killings of the vice president’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The groups at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City included Bayan, Movement Against Tyranny, Clergy and Citizens for Good Governance, and even students.

“Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos, ang pagpapanagot ay binibitin depende sa ano ang politikal na interes ng mga nakaupo sa pwesto,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said.

[Translation: Under the Marcos administration, accountability depends on the political interests of those in power.]

“Ibang bersyon naman ito ngayon ng pagpapahirap sa taumbayan. Ito ‘yung korapsyon naman ni Sara Duterte,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said, noting the corruption of Marcos’ father, the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

[Translation: This is another version of making the people suffer: It’s Sara Duterte’s corruption.]

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino president Luke Espiritu, meanwhile, warned: “Matakot kayo, Sara Duterte; matakot kayo, Rodrigo Duterte; matakot kayo, Bongbong Marcos, sa kayang gawin ng taumbayan… Ang unang-unang dapat gawin ay dapat maningil kami sa inyo, magkaroon ng revolutionary justice.”

[Translation: Be afraid of what the people can do, Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte, and Bongbong Marcos. The first thing we should do is to charge you, to have revolutionary justice.]

Others highlighted the importance of remembering history.

“The failure to change the entire system allowed Marcos to return to Malacañang. It allowed Duterte to rise to power. Kaya ang reminder diyan sa atin, talagang babaguhin natin hindi lang ‘yung nasa tuktok, kundi ‘yung buong sistemang umiiral,” Bayan president Renato Reyes said.

[Translation: The reminder for us is to change not only those at the top but the entire system.]

“Hindi natin makakamit ang anumang pagbabago at reporma sa ating lipunan kung hindi tayo magsasama-sama at kikilos muli through People Power,” Bayan chairperson Teddy Casiño said.

[Translation: We will not achieve change and reforms in our society if we do not come together and mobilize through people power.]

“The Filipino people [are] suffering from all kinds of historical problems that keep repeating themselves like dynasties forever, corruption forever, injustice forever, killing forever,” Clergy for Good Governance’s Fr. Robert Reyes said.

Student participation

The people power anniversary was again a special working day.

Critics said it was an attempt to erase history.

Some schools suspended classes to allow students to participate in the commemoration.

A student from the Ateneo de Manila University said she was glad that her professor called off classes for them to join the event.

“Very sly pero [but] very evident ‘yung [are the] attempts ng [of the] Marcos administration na ibura or i-block ‘yung mga ganitong events [to erase or block these kinds of events],” Araw Longid said.

Meanwhile, students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines walked out of their classrooms as a protest for the school administration’s decision to hold classes.

Malacañang it is not Marcos’ intention to alter history.

“Mayroon bang pinahinto ang pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol dito sa commemoration?” Palace press officer Claire Castro said. “History is history. Hindi po kakayanin lang ng presidente na ito ay mabura sa ating history.”

[Translation: Did the president stop any activities related to the commemoration? The president cannot erase this from history.]

As of 4 p.m., about 10,000 people flocked to the event.

On Feb. 25, 1986, millions of Filipinos gathered along EDSA to end Marcos’ dictatorship and 14-year martial law rule.