Ex-senator Enrile sees nothing wrong with simple EDSA rites this year

One of the prime movers of the EDSA 1 People Power Revolt in 1986 sees nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to hold simple rites and activities honoring the event. (Photo: Juan Ponce Enrile/Facebook)

MANILA—One of the prime movers of the EDSA 1 People Power Revolt in 1986 sees nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to hold simple rites and activities honoring the event.

Former senator, Juan Ponce Enrile, in an interview on the sidelines of the Catholic Mass commemorating the 31st anniversary of the bloodless revolt, held at the AFP Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Friday, said a “fiesta” type of observation of the historic event is not needed, as all EDSA 1 participants placed their lives on the line to topple the dictatorship.

Enrile added that he supports the President’s pronouncements that now is the time to move on, hence this year’s simple celebration.

“That is true, I agree with him not because he is the President, because what he said was right,” the former senator said.

The AFP’s commemoration of EDSA 1 formally started on the morning of Feb. 22 when a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The flowers came from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Another wreath-laying ceremony is expected to be held on Saturday at the EDSA People Power Shrine in Ortigas, Mandaluyong, to be led by former president Fidel V. Ramos.