Duterte skips Bonifacio Day rites anew

MANILA, Philippines — An urgent matter that needed President Duterte’s attention involving insurgency in Mindanao forced him to skip rites commemorating the 155th birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio yesterday, according to Malacañang.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte had to “fly to Mindanao to attend to the problem of insurgency.” Panelo did not elaborate.

On Thursday, Malacañang issued advisories that the President was going to attend the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Bonifacio monument in Caloocan City, which would have been his first if it pushed through.

Duterte did not take part during the previous celebrations of Bonifacio Day in 2017 and 2016.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea led the commemoration rites on behalf of the President. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez and local officials also attended the event.

Medialdea denied that Duterte also wanted to attend to the arrest of former Bayan Muna party-list congressman Satur Ocampo.

“I don’t think so. Why should he?” Medialdea said. “It’s not because Satur is involved. His arrest was different; it involved kids.”

But Galvez said he was not aware of any anti-insurgency operations in Mindanao.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who also attended the rites, said the President had other matters to attend to in Davao. 

“I hope that does not diminish the importance and valor of (Bonifacio), who by the way is my personal hero as an army man,” said Esperon, a retired AFP chief of staff.

‘Emulate Bonifacio’

Vice President Leni Robredo urged Filipinos to emulate Bonifacio, who she said had put the interests of the Filipino first before foreigners.

In her message on Bonifacio Day, Robredo said his life demonstrates how an ordinary Filipino can do extraordinary things for the country.               

“He showed us what it means to persevere in the midst of hardships and to sacrifice because Filipinos deserve better,” the Vice President said. “He believed that we should have a government that puts the interests of the Filipino first before foreigners and that no price is too high for the freedom of our country.” 

Robredo’s message came as the Duterte government continued to receive criticism over its apparent inaction against China’s intrusion in the West Philippine Sea.      

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima called on Filipinos to emulate Bonifacio’s courage in fighting for the rights of marginalized families even if it means going against people in power.

Aside from remembering Bonifacio, she said it is important for Filipinos to learn from his values and follow his lead, especially during these challenging times. 

“In remembering his heroism, let us – especially our leaders – live by and learn from Bonifacio’s principles: helping the poor and oppressed to rise from poverty,” De Lima said.

Protests

Militant groups took to the streets yesterday to call on the government to act on issues hounding workers as the nation commemorated Bonifacio Day.

Protesters gathered at the Welcome Rotonda along España Boulevard in Manila and denounced the government’s failure to pass laws, which seek to end the suffering of the workers.

Among these bills are the expanded maternity leave, security of tenure and pay increase for workers.

Carrying effigies of President Duterte, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, the rallyists marched to Mendiola.

Labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) asked the government to end contractualization and abolish the regional wage boards to improve the lives of workers.               

 Fifth generation descendants of Bonifacio yesterday said the revolutionary leader would have condemned the “sale” of Philippine territory to another foreign power. 

Paolo Bonifacio said his ancestor would have turned in his grave had he known about the joint gas and oil exploration deal signed between the Philippines and China during Xi’s recent visit. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Helen Flores, Paolo Romero, Sheila Crisostomo, Rey Galupo