KAWIT, Cavite — Senator Panfilo Lacson has honored the soldiers and police who perished during the clashes with terrorists in Marawi City as “heroes and the modern day Katipuneros” and rallied the people’s support for the military and police in their fight against the terrorist groups.
Speaking at the 119th Independence Day rites in Kawit, Cavite, the “cradle town of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence,” Sen. Lacson reiterated his message of hope amid change and reforms taking place in the country.
He said that Filipinos’ ancestors and predecessors went through hardships and extreme sacrifice for three centuries to fight for freedom and yet still face threat.
He cited the 191 terrorists who were killed and 52 soldiers and elements from the police who perished during the skirmishes as the “new Katipuneros of our time.”
As the senator was addressing the crowd at the Aguinaldo Shrine here, a few members of the militant group Gabriela and Bayan partylist organization shouted “lightning” statements in front of the Aquinaldo Shrine.
Police initial investigation disclosed the militants may have slipped through the security cordon of the police force and interrupted the solon’s speech.
Lacson, however, said “he did not mention the name” when he cited “if there is a new leader, there is change,” which was in reference to President Rodrigo Duterte, people here claimed.
Seven protesters across the Aguinaldo Shrine were arrested by Kawit Police Station.
Cavite Governor Jeus Crispin Remulla also called on his constituents to pay homage to the heroes who have fallen during the dark days of the Philippine Revolutionary period in the 1900s.
Remulla also appealed to Congress to pass a bill declaring May 28 not only a public holiday but a national holiday throughout the country, a proposal that also got the nod of Caviteño Senator Lacson and congressmen who graced the Freedom Day occasion here.
May 28 is when the “Battle of Alapan” is marked in Imus City.
Remulla welcomed Senator Lacson and Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to the Kawit celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence Day rites themed “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-Samang Babalikatin.”
Lacson and Secretary Teo also offered the wreaths along with Cavite government officials around 7:45 a.m. at the tomb of General Emilio Aguinaldo at the back of the shrine.
Gov. Remulla and Kawit Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo, Senator Lacson and Sec. Teo, Cavite congressional leaders with Philippine Navy Commodore Adeluis Bordado were then accorded the traditional rifle salute.
At 8 a.m., the Senator with Sec. Teo and Gov. Remulla were ushered to the shrine’s balcony where Lacson led in the hoisting of the Philippine Flag as the Philippine National Anthem was played.
The Independence Day celebration here also highlighted a jobs fair and the traditional parade of unity by local officials, police, military, senior citizens, women’s sector, socio-civic organizations and private sector contingents around the Liwasang Aguinaldo (Aguinaldo Park). Rogelio Limpin/PNA-northboundasia.com