Honoring the essence of EDSA entails a steadfast commitment to safeguarding our sovereignty. As we commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising on February 25th, we are confronted anew with a pressing challenge: the elaborate schemes to alter the 1987 Philippine Constitution. A claim that every administration pushes for iniquitous reasons posturing to lift the economic situation of the people. We thus invite our people to use this occasion to reflect deeply on the situation of the Filipinos under the government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Under the present dispensation, we are all witnesses to the skyrocketing of prices and commodities. We continue to experience inequality, amidst grueling poverty especially experienced by peasants and the agricultural sector. Those who speak out the truth, and are vocal about the continuing human rights violations are persecuted. Nothing much has changed.
As people of faith, we honor the commemoration of EDSA People Power by being present in the parliament of the streets, fundamentally exercising our collective power not only in protecting our sovereignty from tyrannical regimes but also in any attempts to jeopardize our 1987 constitution, undermining people’s decision making, democracy, and liberty. Those values that we’ve fought hard for.
If there is one thing the spirit of the EDSA people’s uprising has taught us, is that it is important and paramount to protect the foundational laws that restore and uphold the dignity of our people. Our hard-fought victories over the years serve as a safeguard against further attempts to degrade, disrespect, or assault our freedom, echoing the painful lessons of past dictatorships that persist even in our current context.
Let us therefore be vigilant and take action against this travesty. “We should not be sleeping like the others, we should be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). In the spirit of EDSA, our call remains the same and that is for our leaders of the land to be pro-people, urging the government to prioritize people’s needs amidst a time of escalating poverty; to eradicate corruption, boosting our local agricultural production through genuine agrarian reform, deliver basic social services and push for the resumption of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Ultimately, defend people’s civil and democratic rights, our national sovereignty and work for peace in our land.
May God bless this Republic and its people.
25 February 2024
Bishop Melzar D. Labuntog
Chairperson
The Most Rev. Brent Harry W. Alawas
Vice-Chairperson
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses
Vice-Chairperson
Pastor Jon Dave A. Angeles
Vice Chairperson
Ms. Minnie Anne M. Calub
General Secretary
