Peaceful change is Edsa revolution’s legacy: DILG chief

MANILA – Achieving change through peaceful means remains the legacy of the historic Edsa People Power Revolution, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Friday.

“Well, ang Edsa (revolution) kasi is (is all about making changes) through peaceful means. So yun yung maganda doon. Ang isang malaking problema (What is good about Edsa is that an) issue, conflict, na-resolve (was resolved) through peaceful means, if there is unity among us Filipinos,” Año said in an interview on the sidelines of the commemoration of the event’s 36th anniversary at the Edsa People Power Monument in Quezon City.

Año led the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites along with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Edsa People Power Commission chair Rene Escalante.

“So yun ang magandang (so that is the good) lesson doon (about Edsa) and (we should) probably use that experience in resolving future conflicts and issues in the country,” the DILG chief added.

Victory over dark times

Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the Edsa revolution is the country’s greatest victory over the dark times.

“It is a constant reminder how the Filipino people stood up against those who brought suffering on their lives during Martial Law. History is history. It has happened already. How can we forget?” he added.

Sotto, meanwhile, warned Filipinos against efforts to distort history.

“We must not let anyone revise the truth, especially the truth about Edsa. It is the flame that fires the embers of nationalism among Filipinos. It is our symbol of courage and unity, a light of the truth that gives us our sense of freedom,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said a total of 5,345 police personnel were deployed to secure the activities for the occasion.

The NCRPO was aided in this endeavor by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Public Order and Safety; and Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management will beef-up the manpower.

This year’s commemoration carries the theme “Edsa 2022: Pagtutulungan Tungo sa Sama-Samang Pagbangon Mula sa Pandemya”.

The revolution marks the downfall of the 21-year rule of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in the country.