“President Cory Aquino, is a woman of peace,”  Rep. Antonio H. Cerilles expressed his admiration about her, in his privilege speech as the Lower House passed a Resolution of Sympathy of her demise, three days before her burial.

The late President Cory was a Philippine icon for democracy, who died of colon cancer dawn of August 1.  She rest in peace beside her late senator-husband Ninoy at the Manila Memorial Park last August 5.

In an interview, Cerilles said he was among the few legislators who stood up to say his piece for the late President.

From the original PD 1680 of President Marcos’ regime, she promised to include the institutionalization of Autonomous Regions (ARMM in Mindanao and Cordillera Autonomous Region in mountain province) in the 1987 Constitution.  In short, she made good of her promise.

She wanted the problem in Mindanao should be discussed within the context of the Constitution without inference by other countries like Malaysia and the United States.

The 2nd district representative of Zamboanga del Sur emphasized: “we should not tinker with the territory of the Philippines.  That’s why we have to correlate it with the present situation where there was an attempt to detach or dismember some areas of the country from the republic like the Southern Philippines or Mindanao through the MOA-Ancestral Domain.

“Luckily for us the Supreme Court sustained the integrity of our territory,” he said adding, “it was the right direction to finally tell those who pushed for the MOA-AD that the Constitution can only give them the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and a more than that there is no more room for discussion.”

More than anything else, she (President Cory) loved this country so much because every time there was an issue, you would see her visibility; she would clearly declare her position on it. 

She was also humbled when she realized having committed a mistake, just like she publicly offered public apology to President Estrada.

According to the congressman, President Aquino was as very private person because in her final year as President, she virtually delivered a “Goodbye” State of the Nation Address and chose to have a private and simple life.

When pressed on the move to declare President Aquino a “National Hero”, Cerilles said, “whether we like it or not, she’s already a “hero.”  She was part of our Philippine History. 

However, Cerilles stressed out that we should not jump into conclusion for it took us sometime to recognize Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and the rest as our national hero.

“We have to be careful in declaring our national heroes because it is not only our generation to judge what good to this country they have done but also the next generation.”

“If President Cory be declared a national hero, that would likely also be true to the late President Marcos, Presidents Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo,” Cerilles said, emphasizing objectivity.  (Remai S. Alejado/Zambosur Press Bureau)

Last update: 18-08-2009 13:04