Aquino vows unity but hits Marcos, Arroyo regimes

(Updated 11:10 a.m.) During the 25th anniversary rites of the 1986 People Power revolution on Friday, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Friday vowed to sustain unity among Filipinos but at the same time criticized the Marcos and Arroyo administrations. Aquino's late mother, former President Corazon Aquino, rose to power after the 1986 people's uprising that toppled the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Twenty-five years after the uprising, Aquino said the government should keep the people united and prove that it is worthy of the people's trust. “Naniniwala tayo na sa halip na magkawatak-watak maari tayong magkaisa. Sa halip na magnakaw maari tayong maging tapat sa katungkulan. At sa halip na matakot maari tayong magtiwala sa ating pamahalaan," he said in his speech at the flag-raising ceremony at the People Power Monument in Quezon City. (We believe instead of being divided, we can be united. Instead of stealing, we can be true to our responsibilities. Instead of being afraid, we can trust our government.) Aquino said the only way to maintain the people's trust is through responsible governance and proper spending of taxpayers’ money. “Sa kasamaang palad, ayaw man aminin ng ilan, hindi nangyari sa nakalipas na dekada ang dalawang bagay na ito. May naging taksil sa kanilang katungkulan. May mga naglimas sa kaban ng bayan. Kaya naman todo kayod ang inyong pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng reporma upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan," he said. (Unfortunately, while some will not admit it, these two things [responsible governance and proper spending] did not take place in the past decade. Some officials betrayed their duty and robbed the nation’s coffers. This is why our administration will institute reforms to meet the people’s needs.) The decade that Aquino was referring to was under the administration of his predecessor, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Aquino also criticized Marcos, who declared Martial Law in 1972. “Ang dating tagasunod ni Ginoong Marcos unti-unti namulat sa katotohanang hindi ang kinabukasan nila ang tinataguyod niya kundi ang makasariling interest lamang ng kanyang pamilya. Unti-unting napansin ng Pilipino habang nabawasan ang pagkain sa mesa parami nang parami ang mga sapatos sa cabinet ni Ginang Imelda," he said. (The supporters of Marcos slowly woke up to the truth that Marcos was not promoting their interest but his family’s. Filipinos slowly realized thatwhile they had less food on the table, there were more and more shoes in the cabinet of Mrs. Imelda.) Good governance Aquino invited Filipinos to join his administration in his quest for good governance through fighting corruption. He recalled the 1986 revolution when people from all walks of life gathered at EDSA in Quezon City to call for the ouster of Marcos. “Nang naging sukdulan ang kamay na bakal iisa ang naging tanong ng mga sundalo at pulis at madre at estudyante at sa buong sambayanan, hahayaan ko bang manaig ang ganitong sistema? Iisa rin ang naging tugon nila: hindi. People power ang naging tugon ng milyon-milyong Pilipino," he said. (When the abuses became too much, even the soldiers and police, along with nuns and students, asked themselves if they will allow this to go on. Their answer was ‘No!’ And their action was to unite and show People Power.) “Sa tuwid na pamamahala sa pagsugpo natin sa corruption palayain natin ang bayan natin mula sa kahirapan. Mga minamahal kong kababayan, ang mas maliwanag na bukas ay ginagawa na natin sa ngayon. Sama sama natin ito isakatuparan, he said. (Through good governance and in our fight against corruption, we can free the nation from poverty. My dear fellow Filipinos, join me in working for a brighter future.) Aquino also mentioned the 20,000 housing units being built for soldiers and police officers. He said his administration was able to get funds for the housing units through good governance and wise spending of public money. “Dahil sa tamang pamamalakad at sa masinop na paglalaan ng pera, nakatipid tayo at nakabuo tayo ng pabahay para sa ating mga kawal. Kung walang nanlilimas sa kaban ng bayan, aasenso ang mga Pilipino. At nagawa po natin ito sa loob ng walong buwan pa lamang sa puwesto," he said. The President vowed to continue to tread the straight path and fight corruption to relive the spirit of EDSA. “Ipakita nating buhay ang People Power at hindi ito nagtapos sa apat na araw noong Pebrero 1986. Sa tuwid na pamamahala, at sa pagsugpo natin sa kurapsyon, palayain natin ang bayan natin mula sa kahirapan," Aquino said.– with a report by Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ/VVP, GMA News