The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) joined the Filipino people on Tuesday in commemorating the 34th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution with an appeal to the public to once again unite for the nation’s peace by resisting the influence of “threat” groups.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the EDSA People Power was a “peaceful revolution which was lauded all over the world.”
“This historic event we are remembering today [Tuesday] symbolizes the Filipino people’s resolve to stand up and come together in the name of freedom and democracy,” Lorenzana said.
Three decades after, the Defense Chief hopes that the victories of the People Power Revolution “continue to inspire us to unite for peace and inclusive progress.”
Meanwhile, Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, encouraged the public to reject the influence of “threat groups” – the communists and terrorist organizations – which plagues the society.
“More than being a public holiday, your soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines relive the spirit of that day when we manifest to the world the unity, resolve, courage, and determination of Filipinos,” he said.
“It is our aspiration that all of us join hands once more in the quest for peace and the yearning for progress. Let us reject and fight the members of the communist terrorist group (CTG) and Daesh-inspired local terrorist groups (LTG) who menace the society.”
“Let us once again unite with the AFP in neutralizing the CTG, the proverbial wolves in sheep’s clothing, and defeating the LTG anathema who wreck the lives of our children, destroy our families, and ruin our posterity,” he added.
The EDSA People Power was widely regarded as a peaceful revolution which toppled dictator and former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. by means of bloodless street protests and demonstrations from February 22-25, 1986. (Martin Sadongdong)