Palace mum on renaming EDSA after Cory

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang begged off yesterday from commenting on a proposal by a congressman who wanted Epifanio delos Santos Avenue renamed Cory Aquino Avenue, after President Aquino’s late mother.

“It’s not proper for us to comment. It’s a self-serving statement if we are to comment on that. Congress would still pass upon it anyway,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

He added that Aquino “doesn’t want” attention, noting that “it’s part of the billboard thing so we just don’t want to comment.” Aquino has called for the removal of politicians’ names and images from public works projects.

Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos said his House Bill 5422 seeks to honor Mrs. Aquino by naming EDSA after her. The highway was constructed during the presidency of Manuel Quezon and named 19 de Junio, after the birth date of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

It was later renamed Highway 54 and renamed again in 1959 after Epifanio delos Santos, a noted scholar, jurist and historian.

Congressmen opposed Relampagos’ proposal. Opposition Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said “the peaceful Philippine people power revolution is acclaimed worldwide as the ‘EDSA Revolution,’ a triumphant uprising not of one person but of nameless and common Filipinos.”

“EDSA must not be changed as it is a constant reminder to the tyrannical tendencies of national leaders, now and in the future, and to uphold at all times the supremacy of the Constitution and the ascendency of the rule of law,” he added.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, who belongs to the ruling Liberal Party, said he is against renaming EDSA after Mrs. Aquino “only because I don’t want the revered Aquino name spoken or mentioned in vain or in a bad light.”

“Every day, people will surely complain about the traffic jam along that highway. They will curse the congestion on the proposed Cory Aquino Avenue. I don’t want that to happen,” he said.– With Jess Diaz