Palace defends Marcos not declaring EDSA anniv as non-working day

Malacañang on Tuesday defended President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s decision not to declare the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution as a special non-working day.

"I think it is the prerogative of the President," said Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.

''And when we say special working day, still there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event and it will not hinder any activity to commemorate the EDSA People Power,'' Castro added.

She stressed that Marcos' decision would not hinder any activity commemorating the historic event.

Asked about the remarks of critics saying that the Marcos administration is aiming to revise history, Castro said those were their opinion, adding that the President has never halted the activities related to EDSA commemoration.

''Again, iyan na naman ay kanilang mga opinyon sa mga balak na tumuligsa sa Pangulo at sa pamahalaan. Unang-una, isipin po natin, mayroon po bang pinahinto ang Pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol dito sa commemoration ng EDSA People?'' Marcos said.

(Again, those were their opinion as regards the President and the government. First, let's recall if the President have canceled activities pertaining to the commemoration of EDSA People [Power])

''Since the time po na siya ay naging pangulo, wala po tayong nadinig na anumang pagpapahinto ng anumang events ‘no, any activities na maaaring mag-commemorate ng nasabing event,'' he added.

(Since the time that he became president, we don't hear any cancellation of events or any activities that will commemorate the said event.)

Asked if the non-declaration of a holiday undermines the essence of EDSA, she said, "We don't think so."

''Sabi ko nga po kanina (As I said earlier), if there is the intention to erase the memories of EDSA People Power, ibang klaseng pamamaraan ang gagawin (a different measure will be used). As a matter of fact, we declared it as special working day but it is considered just a regular working day,'' she said.

Castro also said it is the freedom of the schools if they decided to suspend classes amid the declaration of a special working day. ''Kung balak po nila talaga na sila ay walang klase (If they want to suspend classes) , it’s up to them. Free po sila to do that,'' Castro said.

The EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary was declared a special working day this year, falling on a Tuesday. Several schools have announced suspension of classes to commemorate the occasion.

The 1986 uprising ousted Bongbong's father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and installed Corazon Aquino, widow of slain senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., as president. — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News