AKBAYAN Party today co-led the third installment of the Trillion Peso March, joining thousands of Filipinos in commemorating the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution and renewing the fight against massive corruption and dynastic rule.
Saying that the spirit of EDSA must be fully realized, Akbayan President Rafaela David called for an “electoral revolution” to end political dynasties in the Philippines, particularly the warring camps of the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
“Hindi na tayo makakapayag na umiikot lamang ang kapangyarihan at politika sa kamay ng iilang pamilya gaya ng mga Marcos at Duterte. Malacañang should no longer serve as a home for dynastic nepo babies. As we prepare this early for 2028, let us mount an Edsa-inspired electoral revolution to end the Marcos-Duterte power carousel,” David said.
“We need to stop the revolving door of authoritarianism and elite plunder. If 1986 was about reclaiming our democracy, 2028 must be about reclaiming our future,” David stressed.
Akbayan lawmaker Perci Cendaña, for his part, said that passing a genuine anti-political dynasty law would democratize elections and fulfill one of EDSA’s unkept promises. “Ang pagbuwag sa mga political dynasty ay isa sa mga pangako ng EDSA. Nakasaad ito sa 1987 Constitution, na bunga ng People Power,” he said.
“The abolition of political dynasties is a long-delayed task of EDSA. Forty years since the February People Power Revolution, it is time to end their control over our democracy and economy. Kung walang dinastiya, mas tunay ang demokrasya at mas maunlad ang ekonomiya,” Cendaña added.
The 40th year commemoration of EDSA carried the theme, “Trillion Peso March Part 3: Tayo ang People Power Laban sa Korapsyon at Dinastiya Noon, Ngayon, Bukas.” The event was organized by the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network (BAPP) and the Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian (SIKLAB), with support from Caritas Philippines.
Among those who attended were Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David; Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of democracy icons Ninoy and Cory Aquino; Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, economist and EDSA veteran Winnie Monsod; former public officials Edwin Lacierda, Barry Gutierrez, Cielo Magno, and Ronald Llamas; youth leaders Khylla Meneses of Youth Against Kurakot (YAK) and students from various colleges and universities.
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