The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) has rejected Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s move to compare his bloc’s political struggle in the Senate to the late opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship, saying his move, at the very least is “laughable, at the very most, highly insulting, in general, delusional.”

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano shows different Pokémon TCG packs as he explained the current situation in the Upper Chamber (FB live screenshot)

“The delusions of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano know no bounds, as he compared their so-called ‘struggle’  in the Senate to that of the fight of Sen. Ninoy Aquino, against the Marcos Sr. dictatorship,” the group said in its statement on Facebook.

“While we are in a dilemma whether to laugh or rage, ATOM would like to remind him that first, Ninoy fought against fascism, corruption and the lack of accountability, qualities which are evident among their camp’s patrons, and second, that they, along with the Marcoses, represent the very nature of the evil which Ninoy fought against,” they also stated.

“It is ironic that this camp—after having endorsed and danced for the Marcoses in 2022—now try to present itself as Ninoy's heirs. You are not Ninoy's heirs—you are enemies of the values he represents. You are not revolutionaries—you are ‘delusionaries,’ a new term coined especially for your lot,” they also stated.

The group, which was formed after Ninoy’s assassination on Aug. 21, 1983 by Agapito “Butz” Aquino, one of the leaders of the anti-Marcos movement in the 1980s, also reiterated its call for Cayetano to resign: “We remain consistent with our call to Cayetano: Resign Now! As a senator this time. You have become a disgrace not only to the Senate but to the whole country as well.”

But in a statement, also posted on his Facebook account, Cayetano insisted that he has the right to Ninoy Aquino’s legacy.

“Ninoy’s legacy does not belong to those who merely claim it — not even to those who bear his likeness and his name. It belongs to those willing to carry on the fight, not just repeat the slogans,” Cayetano said.

“History does not remember the men who inherited great names. It remembers those who proved worthy of them. Today that name is Aquino. Tomorrow it could just as well be a Reyes, a Cruz, a Santos — anyone, and everyone, willing to stand for the truth,” the senator argued.

“Our heroes were not perfect men. Rizal was not. Bonifacio was not. Ninoy was not. They had their fears and their failings, as we all do. What made them worthy of remembrance is that when history asked something of them, they answered — choosing truth over comfort, principle over convenience, country over self,” he pointed out.

“That is the challenge before us now: not to claim the legacy of our heroes, but to deserve it. Because the greatest tribute we can offer them is not to speak in their name. It is to continue their work,” the lawmaker reiterated.

At the same time, Cayetano reiterated his call for unity pointing out that nation-building is in itself very tedious.

“A final word. Just as our heroes were imperfect, so were the heroes of Scripture. Yet GOD gave them their mission — and the strength to carry it out. Nation-building is tedious, difficult, and dangerous. These are not ordinary times. These are not ordinary problems,” he said.

“They demand extraordinary solutions — and extraordinary sacrifice from ordinary people. But the purpose is clear, and the mission remains. The only question left is who will answer: ‘Here am I. Send me’,” the senator said.