Edsa de-mythicized, repudiated

THIS IS a point-by-point reply to Amando Doronila’s column titled “Marcos burial resolution tears to shreds Edsa mandate.” (Inquirer, 4/11/11)

1. There was no Edsa mandate. A key player of the Edsa revolt objectively computed the number of the Edsa participants to be more or less 600,000 only. Many went to Edsa for food and entertainment. Many of them were stranded passengers and kibitzers. The Edsa people were not the millions of Filipino people.

2. Democracy was not restored by Edsa. Edsa gave birth to a revolutionary government that summarily removed duly elected officials. Under President Ferdinand Marcos, there was barangay democracy.

3. The Supreme Court finally ruled: No Marcos dictatorship, only constitutional authoritarianism.

4. There was no policy of human rights violation. President Marcos’ proclamations, general orders, presidential decrees and letters of instruction decreed observance of due process and respect for human rights.

If the implementers of martial law erred, that was their personal responsibility. If Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos exceeded authority, why not blame them?

President Marcos saved the life of Ninoy Aquino thrice: First, he stopped his execution by musketry; second, he stopped his death by hunger strike; and third, he stopped his death by heart attack. President Marcos sent him to America for medical treatment.

Those opposing the hero’s burial of President Marcos are the ones who have an axe to grind.

Their persistence is understandable. They exploited part of the minority by their rallying cry: Fight Marcos the dictator, plunderer and human rights violator.

The time has come. The people have repudiated them. The Marcoses won in the last elections. The representatives of the people and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have declared Marcos a hero.

To blunt their shame, the anti-Marcos forces have to loudly pretend still: Marcos was not a hero. However, the people through their representatives have spoken: President Marcos was a hero.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said: “Let us not quarrel as to who was the real hero of Edsa, Marcos too was a hero for not bombing us at Edsa.”

5. President Marcos was not a plunderer. President Cory Aquino ordered the filing of a criminal case for plunder in the United States against President Marcos and Imelda Marcos. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

President Marcos left a handwritten legacy: “My wealth is for the benefit of the Filipino people.”

—OLIVER O. LOZANO,
8 Everlasting St.,
Roxas District, Quezon City