MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte was again absent in the EDSA People Power Anniversary Celebration on Monday after choosing to attend to the 1st National Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement that Duterte chose to attend the latter as it is a “more pressing matters” that the People Power commemoration.
“He may not be physically present during the commemoration of the People Power Revolution, he will however be there in union with the celebrators as well as in recognition and reminder to all that our government is a fruit of democracy and our sovereignty resides in the people and all authority emanates from them,” Panelo said.
The President, in his message for the 33rd anniversary of the People Power Revolution, said Filipinos should be reminded that the historic event is the reason for the restoration of election.
“As the entire nation prepares for the upcoming midterm elections this May, let us always remember how this historic revolution restored our power to collectively chart our future through the ballot,” Duterte said.
He added: “May we all have a profound sense of appreciation and understanding of what we lost and what we reclaimed. I hope that the occasion will inspire people, especially the younger generation, to deeply value the freedom and liberty that we won in EDSA.”
The 1986 People Power Revolution has resulted in the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored Philippine democracy under then president Corazon Aquino.
Duterte, who is a political ally of the Marcoses, has not attended a single People Power Revolution commemoration since assuming presidency in 2016./PN
