Duterte ‘most likely’ to skip EDSA People Power anniversary a 3rd time

Photo: ABS-CBN News
Photo: ABS-CBN News

The real question is, did anybody really think he would show up?

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said yesterday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to skip the government-led commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) People Power anniversary next week because he’s busy.

If he does skip it, it would be the third time for Duterte to miss the event since becoming president three years ago.

“Most likely, he will not attend again. He has a lot of work to do. Just yesterday, he was rushing something for 30 minutes, because he had another commitment,” Panelo was quoted saying by Philippine Star.

“Did he attend the event last time? He did not. He has not done so for two years. So most likely, he will not attend,” Panelo also said.

The event is set for Monday, Feb. 25, a special non-working holiday. It celebrates the bloodless revolution that had millions of Filipinos march along the highway EDSA in 1986 to end the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.

People usually gather at the People Power Monument in Quezon City for the event.

Duterte’s absence is unsurprising, given that he is a known ally of the Marcos family. In fact, he is even supporting the senatorial bid of Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, the eldest child of the late president. Duterte said in 2016 that he is beholden to Imee because she supported him in the presidential elections.

Panelo also said earlier this month that Duterte is just reciprocating Imee’s support by endorsing her senatorial bid.

“According to the President, he is helping Imee because he is indebted to her because she’s one of two governors, who helped him in the [2016] campaign,” Panelo was quoted saying by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In October 2016, Duterte claimed that Imee donated money for his campaign. Imee, later on, denied it and said that the president was only joking.

Duterte is also a strong political ally of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, the only son of the late dictator. In 2018, Duterte’s former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the president will retire if Marcos wins his poll protest against current Vice President Leni Robredo.

Bongbong ran for vice president in 2016 but lost. Since then, he has accused Robredo of cheating in the elections. A recount has been ongoing since April 2018.

Duterte also allowed the dictator’s body to hastily be buried in the Heroes’ Cemetery in November 2016, despite the latter’s lengthy record of abuse and corruption.

Panelo, however, was quick to say yesterday that Monday’s holiday is “important” to the president, GMA News reported. He said that Duterte had issued statements in the past wherein the president expressed support for People Power’s anniversary.

Duterte, in a statement for last year’s celebration, asked Filipinos to “enrich our democracy” and strengthen the institutions that safeguard people’s freedom.

But don’t actions speak louder than words?



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