Palace: Preparations ongoing for EDSA-1 celebration

Preparations are underway for the 25th anniversary celebration of the EDSA-1 People Power revolt that catapulted President Benigno Aquino III’s late mother Corazon Aquino to the presidency in 1986. In a radio interview Sunday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. is heading the preparations for the event. “They are in the midst of planning for the 25th anniversary celebration. We will leave that to the executive secretary, may mga plano sila (The organizers are in the midst of planning for the 25th anniversary celebration. We will leave that to the executive secretary. They have plans)," he said on government-run dzRB radio. Lacierda did not elaborate on the plans. Last Feb. 3, President Aquino led the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed members of EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) in Malacañang. Ochoa heads the appointed officials as EPPC Chairman and Christopher Carrion as the vice-chairman. The other members who took their oath were former Trade Secretary Jose Pardo Jr., singer-composer Herminio “Ogie" Alcasid Jr., advertising executive Emily Abrera, Milagros Kilayko, and former Government Service Insurance System chairman Cesar Sariño. Created under the Executive Order No. 82, the EPPC aims to institutionalize the legacy of the EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos. President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 17 last December 22 which streamlines the role of the Commission. It also appoints the Executive Secretary as chairman, private sector representative as vice chairman and reduced the number of members from 25 down to five. The nation will mark the 25th anniversary of the EDSA-1 revolt on Feb. 25. - KBK, GMA News