Bicol insurgents praise Cory, too

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Even the communist movement mourns the death of former President Corazon Aquino who they consider as the country’s only “clean and honest president.”

In several radio interviews here, Greg Bañares, Bicol spokesman of the National Democratic Front (NDF), said their group recognizes, too, the contributions of Mrs. Aquino in restoring democracy and regaining the lost freedom of the country.

“We salute President Aquino for all the sacrifices she withstood and the challenges she survived for the benefit of the people. She is the most honest and the cleanest president the country ever had,” Bañares said in Filipino and in the dialect.

Mrs. Aquino, assisted by Catholic Church leaders, released several political prisoners in Bicol, including ranking rebel leader Sotero Llamas.

Former Bicolano senator Victor Ziga, who served in Mrs. Aquino’s Cabinet, recalled that Bicol gave her the most number of votes during the 1986 snap elections.

Ziga said it was in Albay where Mrs. Aquino held her first campaign sortie, probably because Bicol was a staunch critic of the Marcos regime.

Aside from Ziga, Mrs. Aquino also appointed two other Bicolanos to her Cabinet: Luis Villafuerte as minister for government reorganization, and Joker Arroyo as executive secretary.

Elsewhere in the country, Filipinos were glued to their TV sets yesterday, watching the necrological rites for Mrs. Aquino at Manila Cathedral.

In Tarlac City, a wide screen was put up at the plaza for this purpose. After the rites, city folk released yellow balloons and white doves, while communication groups staged a motorcade in honor of their provincemate.

A caravan led by Gov. Victor Yap, Rep. Jose Yap and Tarlac City Mayor Genaro Mendoza left early yesterday morning to join Mrs. Aquino’s funeral.

Across Pangasinan, people from all walks of life also watched as Mrs. Aquino’s funeral cortege inched its way to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Bulakenyos did, too.

From Cagayan Valley to Zamboanga City, people gathered, too, in churches for Masses for “Tita Cory.”

The vicinity of the Metropolitan Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Zamboanga City was festooned with yellow ribbons, as well as streamers and banners stating “Gracias, Presidente Cory (Thank you, President Cory).”

Archbishop Romulo Valles said Mrs. Aquino lived by God’s example. “She showed the people to leave everything to God,” he said.

For his part, Fr. Emil Ibera, parish priest of Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya, said, “We saw (Mrs. Aquino’s) sincerity to protect freedom and democracy and hope others will exemplify what she was able to give to the nation.”

Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said Mrs. Aquino “epitomizes justice and equality, which are the essence of a true democratic nation.” – With Roel Pareño, Eva Visperas, Ric Sapnu, Charlie Lagasca and Dino Balabo