Rep. Edcel Lagman
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. blatantly violated the law by transferring the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day from August 21 to August 23.
This was revealed by Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman after Marcos hastily moved the observance of the day marking the assassination of former senator Benigno Ninoy Aquino Jr.
“The dates of national memorials must not be changed to dilute its significance and accommodate revisionism,” said Lagman.
He mentioned that this act is no different from Christmas Day on December 25, New Year’s Day on January 1, Edsa Resolution on February 25, Labor Day on May 1, and even the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
It is also stated in Republic Act (RA) 9492 or “An Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays” that the Ninoy Aquino Day can only be moved if August 21 falls close to a Monday.
If the President wishes to change the dates of holidays, a proclamation must be issued six months prior to the date, but this did not happen for Ninoy Aquino Day as Proclamation No. 665 was only released on August 15, 2024 to move the commemoration of the sacrifice of the late senator to free the Filipinos from the regime of Marcos Jr.’s father, the dictator former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. “The change of date in Ninoy Aquino’s death celebration this year is obviously in violation of the law as it should have been proclaimed by the President six (6) months ago,” explained Lagman.
It can be recalled that on August 21, 1983, Aquino, a known political rival of Marcos Jr., returned to the Philippines but before he could step off the plane onto the tarmac, he was shot and killed.
Aquino’s death became the catalyst for the Filipino people to rise against the Marcos dictatorship, and almost three years later, particularly on February 25, 1986, the Marcoses were ousted from Malacañang.
