Ninoy Aquino remembered at Mass at Manila Memorial Park

Relatives and friends of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. trooped to his resting place at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City on Monday morning to mark his 34th death anniversary.

A Mass was held which was attended by former President Benigno Aquino III, according to a report on News To Go.

The former President was accompanied by his siblings, according to a report by Jam Sisante on Balitanghali.

A short program was also held wherein former President Aquino said that after 34 years, Filipinos cannot tell Ninoy that the Philippines has changed since the country is still facing the same problems.

He cited the death of minor Kian delos Santos, killed by Caloocan cops during a police operation last week, as one such problem.

The former President said he was struck by what delos Santos' mother said in an interview that no parent should bury his/her child.

He added he remembered his grandmother, the mother of the late senator, who said it was very painful to hear the news that Ninoy was killed.

The late senator, a known rival of then President Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated on August 21, 1983 at the Manila International Airport.

Aquino then thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for recognizing Ninoy's sacrifice for the sake of democracy, but added that he hoped the President would re-read his own statements.

Also at the event were Senators Franklin Drilon, Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and Antonio Trillanes IV.

All of them condemned the rising number of killings in the government's war on drugs.

Drilon and Pangilinan said the government should think of another way to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

Pangilinan said the administration should go after syndicates that bring in illegal drugs instead of focusing on the poor.

Trillanes, meanwhile, said the killings are state-sponsored and ordered by Duterte.

He said he is hoping that the truth will come out in the upcoming Senate investigation on drug killings.

Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas also attended Monday's event.

August 21 has been declared a national non-working day in the Philippines in honor of the late senator. —KG, GMA News