Vandals paint ‘Marcos Pa Rin!’ at People Power Monument

Vandals spray-painted the message "Marcos Pa Rin!" at a monument commemorating the struggle against the Martial Law regime and the People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

BJ David took a photo and submitted it to YouScoop.

The EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) in a statement condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the vandalism committed against the monument.

They said that the act is an affront against all Filipinos who fought for human rights and democracy in 1986.

"While we in the EPPC respect the vandal's right to self-expression, it is regrettable that the Monument, which is deeply valued by millions of Filipinos, has to be desecrated to convey the vandal's own political thoughts," EPPC said.

They also warned that the selfish imposition of political beliefs is a regression to "the ways of authoritarianism and dictatorial rule."

But despite the vandalism on the Monument, the EPPC said that Filipinos' commitment remains untouched.

"The Monument may have been sullied, but we still commit our enduring faith to uphold justice, human rights, and our democracy," EPPC said.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., meanwhile, said the vandals are inviting the “justified anger” of the Filipino people who fought for the nation’s democracy in the EDSA People Power Revolution.

"The vandals who wrote a revisionist slogan at the People Power Monument are inviting the justified anger of our Bosses --- the Filipino people ---who stood in unison on EDSA to defy the dictators' armed forces and assert their determination to restore democracy in our beloved country,” Coloma said.

Bloodless revolution

Former president Ferdinand Marcos and his family fled the Philippines in 1986 after a bloodless revolution that installed Corazon Aquino into power. The nation celebrated the 30th anniversary of the event last month.

But the Marcoses have made a political comeback, with Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. figuring strongly in vice presidential preference polls despite campaigns by Martial Law victims against his run. —Jessica Bartolome, Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/JST/ALG, GMA News