Palace: No automatic 'reconciliation' with Arroyo at EDSA rites

Inviting former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the 1986 People Power Revolution’s 25th anniversary does not mean “reconciliation" with President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang said Sunday. Aquino does not mind Arroyo being there at the anniversary, but he maintains there can be no reconciliation without justice, Presidential deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in an interview on government-run radio dzRB. “If I remember correctly at the inaugural sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino (President Aquino said) that there can be no reconciliation without justice... Alam natin maraming nangyari noong nakaraang administrasyon na di kaaya-aya (We know many things had happened during the past administration that are unpleasant)," the speaker said on government-run dzRB radio. Valte said Arroyo — who came to power in 2001 following an EDSA-2 People Power Revolution that ousted then President Joseph Estrada — can expect the “respect that is accorded (a) former president." Besides, Aquino wants all Filipinos to join the anniversary celebration because he believes the EDSA-1 revolution “belongs to the Filipino people," Valte said. “EDSA does not belong solely to one family. It belongs to the Filipino people. All of us... should all take part in the celebration in remembering the spirit of EDSA," she said. Meanwhile, Valte downplayed reports that APO Hiking Society — a singing group that backed the EDSA-1 and EDSA-2 revolts — was shut out of this year’s celebration. “I would certainly think this is not because of a problem with the group or because the organizers of this year’s celebrations are not impressed with the group." Youth invited Valte particularly invited the youth, or those aged 25 and below, to take part in the celebration of EDSA-1 anniversary so they can get a feel of what it was to oust a dictator and regain democracy. “Kung di ninyo alam, kung pinanganak kayo (If you didn’t know, if you were born) after 1986, this week is very opportune time for you to be one with the rest of the nation just to see what it was like in EDSA... kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng EDSA sa atin bilang mamamayan na ngayon ay may demokrasya na (what EDSA means for us as a people that now there is democracy)," she said. — JE/VS, GMA News