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<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1471709" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure>MANILA - Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III on Independence Day relived the horrors of the Martial Law period and appealed to Filipinos to value their hard-earned democracy, while the country prepares for a change in administration under President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.Speaking at the traditional vin d&#x27; honneur at Malacañang Palace, Aquino recalled how his father, Senator Benigno &quot;Ninoy&quot; Aquino Jr., for opposing the authoritarian rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos.President Aquino shared that his father was first detained at the Fort Bonifacio in Manila but was later transferred to a far-flung &quot;detention camp,&quot; without being allowed to see his family.Aquino that said after months without word on the location of his father, the Army took their family to this detention camp where they saw a frail and emaciated Ninoy.Ninoy, who was deprived of his eyeglasses and means to monitor the time, was given only two sets of underclothes to use inside his small cell with its boarded windows, Aquino recalled.The senator was eventually sentenced to death but was later permitted to travel to the United States with his family for medical treatment after a heart attack.In August 21, 1983, he returned to the Philippines after his self-imposed exile but was assassinated. His death sparked a series of events which ultimately led to the People Power Revolution of 1986 that removed the Marcoses from power.Aquino said his father&#x27;s death made Filipinos realize that no one is safe when a dictator tramples on the rights of even just one citizen.&quot;Sa tahasang pagpatay sa isang Ninoy, natanto ng samabayanan na maski anong oras, maaaring sapitin ng lahat ang ganoon kalagim na kapalaran -- na kapag hinayaan nating yurakan ang isa, inihahanda na rin ang sitwasyon upang yurakan ang sarili nating karapatan,&quot; he said.The President then emphasized that the Filipino people once lost their freedom and this may happen again if the public becomes passive in guarding democracy.&quot;Minsan nang inagaw ng kapwa Pilipino ang ating kalayaan. Ibig sabihin, kung hindi tayo magiging mapagmatyag pwede itong mangyari ulit. Ngayong papasok tayo sa panibagong kabanata ng ating kasaysayan, nawa&#x27;y hindi natin malimot na ang kalayaan, kailangan bantayan at alagaan. Lahat ng mahalaga, kailangan pagsikapan, kailangan ipaglaban,&quot; he said.&quot;Sabi ng isang manunulat na si Edmund Burke: All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.&quot;Meanwhile, the President also listed the various achievements of his administration as seen through strong economic growth, improved social services and government programs which allowed Philippines to rise as the &quot;Darling of Asia&quot; from being the &quot;Sick Man of Asia.&quot;Aquino underscored that these achievements were reached under a democratic rule that honors due process, law and human rights.&quot;Napakita na nating kaya nating bawiin ang inagaw na demokrasya. Ngayon napatunayan nating kaya nating paganahin ang demokrasya para sa ikabubuti ng ating mamamayan. Naabot natin ang lahat ng ating tinatamasa ngayon nang gumagalang sa proseso at batas at karapatan ng bawat tao,&quot; he said.&quot;Nagawa natin ito nang hindi sinisikil ang tinig ninuman at binigyang halaga ang kalayaan na pinaglaban ng mga nauna sa atin. Nanindigan tayo: Walang mararating na tunay na pag-unlad kung isusuko ang ating dignidad at karapatan.&quot;Aquino ended his speech with a toast saying, &quot;To the Filipino people: May we never lose our patience with the ways of democracy, and may we never take it for granted or be passive in its defense.&quot;&quot;To our hard-won Filipino freedom -- earned by the blood and sacrifice of martyrs, nurtured by the vigilance of an empowered people.&quot;Aquino had actively campaigned against Duterte in the run-up to May 9 elections, warning against the possible return of authoritarianism and dictatorship under the Duterte&#x27;s leadership.(READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/04/28/16/pnoy-takes-swipe-at-duterte-marcos">PNoy takes swipe at Duterte, Marcos</a>)Duterte previously promised to reinstate the death penalty and issue shoot-to-kill orders against criminals in a bid to <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/05/20/16/after-duterte-mayor-offers-bounties-for-slain-criminals">suppress criminality</a> within three to six months. He had also threatened to <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/04/29/16/duterte-to-shut-down-congress-if-threatened-with-impeachment">close down Congress</a> if he would face impeachment attempts as president.Aquino has kept quiet since Duterte&#x27;s victory in the polls and instead ordered his Cabinet to cooperate with the President-elect for a <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/video/nation/05/14/16/palace-transition-team-ready-to-work-with-duterte-camp">smooth transition</a> of power.At noon on June 30, Aquino will step down from office as Duterte is proclaimed the 16th President of the Philippines.

Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III on Independence Day relived the horrors of the Martial Law period and appealed to the public to value their hard-earned democracy, while the country prepares for a change in administration under President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

PNoy to Filipinos: Never take democracy for granted

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PNoy to Filipinos: Never take democracy for granted

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 12, 2016 12:20 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 12, 2016 06:46 PM PHT

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independence day 2016

benigno aquino

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