Duterte, Cayetano: Spirit of EDSA lives in their fight to end disorder

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said the spirit of the 1986 EDSA “People Power Revolution” which helped topple the Marcos dictatorship and restored democracy in the country is alive in their fight to end the country’s disorders such as crime, illegal drugs and corruption.

“It has been 30 years since the 1986 People Power Revolution, and today, as we commemorate the momentous restoration of Philippine democracy, we are also reminded of what it was that the Filipino people had fought and died for. The EDSA Revolution was not a battle between two political families. Rather, it was the battle between a dictatorship mired in corruption and abuse and the Filipino people’s aching desire to restore democracy, order, and the rule of law,” Duterte and Cayetano said in joint statement released Thursday.

“The spirit of EDSA lives on, embodied not just by one person, nor a handful of political families. The spirit of EDSA lives on today in each of us, and it binds us together as the Filipino nation. Certainly, the spirit of EDSA lives on in each of us, but so do the problems that EDSA had sought to end. Crime, illegal drug trafficking and corruption are some of the social ills that contribute to the people's daily woes. This is precisely why we wage a war against disorder and suffering,” the statement added.

Duterte and Cayetano also called on the people to remember the lessons of the EDSA People Power revolt as they called on voters to ensure that the new set of leaders to be elected in May, will not become corrupt and abusive.

“In this war, we must remember the lessons of EDSA. It is not enough to elect a competent government. We must ensure the government we elect doesn't become corrupt and abusive. The leaders we choose to govern us must be leaders who are truly democratic and would stand up against any and all forms of oppression, abuse, and neglect. As people, we must exercise vigilance to protect the freedom that we have won many years ago,” the joint statement said.

Duterte and Cayetano also called on the present Filipino youth to remember the sacrifices made by the youth in the 1970s and 1980s under an oppressive government.

“Today’s youth, particularly the millennials, enjoy civil and political rights and the freedom to be part of nation-building that was taken away from the youth 30 years ago. 30 years ago, the youth endured a difficult struggle to overthrow an oppressive government, so that succeeding generations would not suffer the same fate under the hands of a dictator. We implore all young Filipinos to remember one single truth: The youth in the ‘70s and ‘80s made a tremendous sacrifice, so that the youth today will be free,” the statement said.

Meawhile, Duterte and Cayetano said the fight for real change did not end with the EDSA People Power revolt.

“As we celebrate three decades of our freedom, let us not forget the main message of the People Power Revolution: Real Change. The battle that culminated in EDSA in 1986 was only the beginning of our fight for a better nation,” Duterte and Cayetano said in their statement.

“Ang laban para sa tunay na pagbabago ay hindi natapos sa EDSA, kundi patuloy na nagaganap sa kasalukuyang henerasyon. Upang maipanalo ito, kailangan ng mga lider na may tapang at tibay ng loob na tapusin ang gulo at hirap sa buhay ng tao. Ito mismo ang pundasyon ng tambalang Duterte-Cayetano. With bold solutions and swift action, the Filipino nation will achieve a level of order and development that ensures not only the welfare of this generation, but of the future generations of the Filipino people,” the joint statement added.