Vice President Sara Duterte’s message for the 38th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution was taken down just hours after it was posted on the official’s social media account.
Wreath-laying ceremony for the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution held at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte's office refused to explain why the post, which was published Sunday night, Feb. 25, was removed. It also did not publish a statement on its social media page.
In a now deleted post, Duterte asked Filipinos to “remember the lessons of EDSA” and “uphold the spirit of EDSA in all that we do.”
It also recalled the “brave souls” who fought during the 1986 People Power Revolution and said that “their courage and determination paved the way for a better Philippines, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
Netizens and some pro-administration bloggers were quick to criticize Duterte’s EDSA anniversary message, pointing out that it was inconsistent with a statement she made in 2017 that questioned the meaning of EDSA.
“When it is not your destiny to become president, you will see the early sign of it. Vice President Sara Duterte's 360-degree comments on EDSA are shocking. How can people trust you when you can deceive yourself? Don't be an Orocan!,” Mr. Winwin_Situation (Winwineklabu) stated, referring to a popular brand of plastic products.
They also criticized her after her Office deleted the message from her Facebook page.
“Nahihirapan na talaga sila pumuwesto ng saloobin. Unity pa rin ba (They are really having a hard time about their stand. Is it still unity)?,” former lawmaker Teddy Baguilat said.
“Sige nga, antayin natin reaction ng panganay na anak ni Apo FEM about sa deleted EDSA message ni VP Inday. Ngayon malalaman hanggang saan ang paninindigan ng isang Marcos. Ano, maloloka ka ba ulit? @SenImeeMarcos (Okay, let us wait for the reaction of FEM’s eldest daughter about VP Inday’s deleted EDSA message. Now, we will learn until what a Marcos can stand for. Are you going to say it’s just crazy again?),” Volt Hizon (@bleaujhob) wrote.
The People Power Revolt, known around the world for being a peaceful protest and uprising, overthrew the Marcos dictatorship and prompted the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his family to leave Malacañan and stay eventually in Hawaii.
It was only in 1991 that the Marcos matriarch was allowed to return to the Philippines to face various charges and in 1992, the now-President Ferdinand Jr. was elected congressman in the second district of Ilocos Norte.
Duterte, a granddaughter of Davao’s leading Yellow Friday Movement activist Soledad Duterte, won together with Marcos Jr. under the UniTeam ticket during the 2022 national elections.
While her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and siblings have called out Marcos for a reportedly planned Charter Change, the Vice President maintains that she still has a good relationship with the President.