News Roundup 21 August 2023
Aug 21, 2023 • 4 min Read
Ninoy’s death united broad anti-Marcos opposition — LP president | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Liberal Party President Edcel Lagman recalled that the assassination of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a staunch critic of former President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., had united different factions of the broad anti-Marcos movement.
Lagman gave this statement on Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21 — an annual non-working holiday commemorating the death anniversary of Aquino. This year marks 40 years since he was shot down while being escorted off an airplane by security personnel.
“Ninoy’s violent death in broad daylight also laid bare the brutality and ruthlessness of the Marcos regime in silencing its critics and muzzling the opposition,” the Albay representative said.
“His death did not only galvanize the opposition, it also united various anti-Marcos groups that previously differed in their approach in ousting the dictator, and resulted in cohesive and consistent mass actions,” Lagman added.
The lawmaker added that Aquino’s death had inspired courage, not “terror,” among Filipinos, setting off a series of events that led to the ouster of Marcos Sr.
Full Story at: Ninoy’s death united broad anti-Marcos opposition — LP president | Philstar.com
Ninoy supporters ask Pinoys: Defy fake news, deception | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — On the eve of the 40th death anniversary of Benigno Aquino Jr., dozens of the senator’s supporters and members of political groups called on Filipinos to defy fake news and widespread deception that they say are perpetrated by the Marcos administration.
They trooped to the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala Avenue in Makati City yesterday to call for the “continued remembrance of our history, and the defense of truth and democracy” especially by the youth.
The event was headlined by the retelling of Aquino’s life and death, led by one of his grandsons, Kiko Dee, son of the late senator’s daughter Viel.
In his speech, Dee differentiated his grandfather from the heroes of lore in the West who swooped down on evil all on their own.
Dee, also deputy executive director of the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation, said his grandfather had the makings of a hero because he was one with the suffering of his people.
“And when we, the citizens, share in the suffering of our nation and we join them in their fight, this can lead to very big things. And that is the lesson of the EDSA People Power Revolution,” Dee said.
Akbayan Party president Rafaela David said, “while we no longer live under martial law, the constant attempts to distort the truth are the gravest threats to democracy in the country.”
Full Story at: Ninoy supporters ask Pinoys: Defy fake news, deception | Philstar.com
No truth to report PH nixed joining South China Sea drills – Brawner | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday debunked a Japanese media report stating that Philippine government declined to participate in a supposed multilateral naval exercise among the countries of United States, Japan, and Australia in South China Sea.
Kyodo News on August 18 reported the three countries were allegedly considering sending their vessels in the Philippines for the purported naval exercise.
Manila, however, supposedly “cancelled” its participation since the aircraft of the participating countries “are too large to land on the decks of Philippine warships,” the report further claimed.
However, Brawner clarified no such exercises are scheduled in the contested waters.
“From our point of view, wala tayong alam na ganoon, at hindi tayo tumanggi,” Brawner said in an ambush interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon city.
(From our point of view, we are not aware of such things, and we did not reject participating in the exercises.)
Full Story at: No truth to report PH nixed joining South China Sea drills – Brawner | Global News (inquirer.net)
Dutertes’ silence on BRP Sierra Madre’s removal speaks volumes — solon | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Monday cast suspicion on former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding which Philippine leader had supposedly promised China that the Philippines would remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro observed former president Joseph Estrada and former president and now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have categorically denied making such a commitment.
For his part, Duterte had also disowned the arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines.
“Duterte has also just gone to China to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but what they discussed still has to be disclosed,” Castro said in a statement.
Full Story at: Dutertes’ silence on BRP Sierra Madre’s removal speaks volumes — solon | Inquirer News
