Related article:
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/magdalo-10-years-oakwood-224739924.html
When Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Rep. Gary Alejano and some 100 officers and soldiers were preparing to mark the 15th year of the life-changing decision they made when they went out to denounce the corruption in the dubious presidency of Gloria Arroyo, little did they know that she would be installed as Speaker of the House, third in the line of succession to the presidency.
The irony was not lost on the officers and soldiers who spent seven years of their lives in detention for what they did on July 27, 2003.
“Critics of the Magdalo point to the fact that we once broke the military chain of command, and in the process found ourselves in the crosshairs of the State. We faced the consequences of the stand we made fifteen years ago, and we accepted the fate that the Arroyo regime imposed upon us”, said Ashley Acedillo, who was then a 26-year old first lieutenant in the Philippine Air Force.
Acedillo served as spokesman of the group until his election as member of the House of Representatives (Magdalo Party List) in 2013 to 2016.
“It is perhaps both ironic and troubling that 15 years after the events of July 27, 2003 that saw almost 400 AFP officers and soldiers publicly demonstrate against the corruption of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) and her cohort of favored generals and senior officers, we mark this occasion with the spectacle of a surreptitious ascension of now-Representative Gloria Arroyo as Speaker of the House,” he said in a statement.
Acedillo said what happened at the Batasan Monday last week merely underscored the saddening state of affairs of our country and reflected the real ‘State of the Nation’ – that of an incompetent and weak President, upstaged by a truly corrupt and boundlessly ambitious former President who Duterte himself unleashed from the yoke of corruption charges and a farcical house arrest, only now to once again prowl upon the smeared lower House and prey upon the Filipino people again.”
To those who are troubled by Arroyo’s return to power, it seemed that all the struggle – physical-economic-political-emotional – have been for naught.
But Acedillo sees it as a continuing challenge and for them deepen their commitment to nation building.
Magdalo has come a long way. Dismissed by Arroyo and her advisers as just a bunch of a group of young officers full of themselves who still has a lot to learn in political warfare, they have produced one senator and two partylist representatives.
Magdalo has further strengthened its organization through opening its ranks to volunteer Filipinos who are encouraged to be responsible citizens of the country and to engage in community works aimed to address problems encountered in the grassroots level. Magdalo chapters composed of hundreds of thousands of volunteers have been organized in almost all provinces of the country and even abroad. The Magdalo Foundation was also created to help underprivileged members of the Samahang Magdalo and other constituents.
With Arroyo’s second ascent, Magdalo sees bigger challenges ahead.
Mabuhay ang Magdalo! Tunay na nagmamahal sa bayan!
“To those who are troubled by Arroyo’s return to power, it seemed that all the struggle – physical-economic-political-emotional – have been for naught.” please lang po, guard against this statement na mukhang may kahalong instant gratification. sa tingin ko po, magdalo did their best and if their best was not the best ‘at the time’ it was not solely their fault. there were much stronger forces against them, more powerful, more influential, more widespread and able to buy its way out many times over.
the most important is that the magdalo tried, putting the powerful corrupts in check, that they did not have it all their way. magdalo tried, did they lost? not really, dahil up until now, magdalo is still much felt, and honored, and noticed and relevant, and still much talked about. their efforts was not all for nought, their country remembers them with love and awe and much respect. they were fighting for their principles vs the unprincipled. no medals and orders of lapu-lapu needed, no parangals and added pension. and maybe, only had jail time to show for it.
now, the magdalo could well be needed again, more challenges up ahead. and maybe now, more will join the magdalo, new generation boosting rank and file, and again, not expecting monetary gains and rewards and worse, no medals wait them.