‘Without AFP, PNP, EDSA revolt wouldn’t have succeeded’ –Lacson

There would not have been a 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution without the intervention of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). (Photo:
Armed Forces of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA –There would not have been a 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution without the intervention of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sen. Panfilo Lacson made this remark in a radio interview on DWIZ Saturday, noting that although it was important to know it was a collective power of the people, the role of the AFP and PNP should also be brought to mind.

“…Isang nakikita ko, kung babalikan natin ang history natin, maski anong klaseng people power ang maganap, kung walang intervention ang armed services, AFP, PNP, hindi magtatagumpay. Yan ang isang leksyon ng history na nakita natin,” Lacson said.

(“One thing I see when we review our history, is that whatever type of people power happens, if there is no intervention of armed services, AFP, PNP, it won’t succeed. That is one lesson from history that we see.”)

Lacson, former PNP chief, said that the AFP and PNP played a large role in overthrowing the regime of the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos

“Na oo nga, people power. Pero kung walang isang component yung participation ng more on the AFP than PNP. Pero kung hindi ito susuportahan o pangungunahan ng AFP at PNP, sa tingin ko my basis is history, hindi magtatagumpay at di magaganap ang pag-overthrow ng isang gobyerno kung wala ang isang component, which is the participation of the armed services sa PH,” he added.

(“That yes, it is people power. But if there is no component—the participation of AFP and PNP—if it won’t be supported or led by the AFP and PNP, I think it won’t succeed and the overthrow of a government wouldn’t have happened.”)

To recall, the peaceful revolution began when then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, and then Philippine Constabulary Major Gen. Fidel Ramos, withdrew support from the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos.

This led to an uprising of military and civilian groups along the stretch of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to call for Marcos’ ouster.

Lacson, meanwhile, said that one undeniable accomplishment of the EDSA Revolution was the return of democracy but there were still many questions that remain unanswered

“Ano ba nagbago sa buhay ng Pilipino? Ano ang nagbago aside from na-restore ang democracy, ano ang mabuting naidulot ng EDSA Revolution? Yan ang dapat natin tanungin. Wala akong ready answer diyan at yan ay mahabang usapan,” Lacson said.

(“What has changed in the lives of Filipinos? What else has changed aside from the restoration of democracy? What are the good things that resulted from the EDSA Revolution? Those are the questions we should ask. I don’t have a ready answer for that and that is a long discussion.”

“…Yan ang malaking katanungan, maraming ano ang nagbago, ano ang lumala pa, ano ang di nagbago?” he asked.

(“Those are the big questions, there are many what has changed, what has worsened, what hasn’t changed?)