‘Duterte not downplaying EDSA rites’

MANILA, Philippines — Despite skipping the 32nd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution on Sunday, President Duterte is not downplaying the importance of the historic event. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque yesterday said the government continues to lead the commemoration of the revolution, which resulted in the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines.

“There’s none. It remains in our statute books. As in fact, the ceremonies are being, well, spearheaded by the National Historical Commission no less,” Roque said when asked whether there is an attempt to diminish the significance of the event. 

“The declaration of Feb. 25 as a national holiday stays. It is a public holiday, and public funds are being spent to commemorate it. So I don’t think there should be any reason to deviate from the fact that by law and by practice, we celebrate EDSA because it was a historical event in our country,” he said. 

Duterte, an ally of Marcos, has been skipping the EDSA anniversary rites since 2016.

Roque claimed it was not unusual. 

“Even in the past not all presidents showed up,” he said. 

The President allowed the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016, drawing flak from groups that accuse Marcos of committing human rights violations.

Duterte maintained that Marcos was qualified to be given a hero’s burial as a former president, lawmaker and war veteran. 

‘EDSA revolution not fake news’

Roque refuted claims that the EDSA People Power Revolution was a product of “fake news,” saying it was an important historical event. 

“According to the law, it is not fake news. According to the law, we honor the EDSA revolution having declared it as a public holiday. And of course, as I said earlier, we even have appropriate funds to commemorate the event,” Roque said. 

“We still recognize and will always recognize EDSA not only as an important historical event, but it was the first bloodless people power revolution in the entire planet Earth, and remains significant,” he added. 

Roque was asked to react to an online poll put up by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who has been accused of peddling propaganda and misinformation online. 

Uson asked her followers whether they believe that the EDSA Revolution was a product of fake news.

Around 84 percent voted “yes” while 16 percent answered “no.” 

Uson drew flak for dismissing as mere “drama” the efforts of some nuns to stop military tanks from attacking pro-democracy forces in EDSA 32 years ago.