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World will not forgive a third EDSA revolt, Arroyo warns
(Updated 4:51 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Sunday warned that the world would not tolerate another EDSA revolution - a warning she made amid accusations by her critics that she was planning to stay in power beyond 2010. Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony to start the 23rd anniversary of the first EDSA Revolution, President Arroyo said the world would condemn the Philippines in case a third "people power" revolution takes place. "The world embraced EDSA-1 in 1986. The world tolerated EDSA-2 in 2001. The world will not forgive an EDSA-3 but will instead condemn the Philippines as a country whose political system is unstable," she said in a speech delivered at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City. Instead, she urged Filipinos to unite to face the challenges of the global economic crisis. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that because of the crisis, the President was now reaching out to her political opponents, among them former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada, whom she replaced after the so-called EDSA-2 Revolution in January 2001. In an interview over government-run dzRB radio Sunday, Remonde said healing the wounds of first and second EDSA revolutions is one of the cornerstone programs of President Arroyo. "Kaya she's not only reaching out to former President Aquino but also to former President Estrada and the rest lalo na sa panahong ito na hinaharap natin ang isang global crisis," Remonde said. [“That’s why she’s not only reaching out to former President Aquino but also to former President Estrada and the rest, especially now that we are affected by the global crisis."] Danny Lim President Arroyo's speech came two days after 17 military groups voiced support for detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim toward "a country of peace, progress and prosperity." The groups, in a statement posted on the Sundalo website last Friday, said the country "is slowly being engulfed by the fires of poverty, war, and corruption." "We concede the need to strengthen our ranks in the face of a ruthless enemy. We recognize our people's longing for change and their desire for a new breed of leader," they said. DzRB radio reported that President Arroyo was scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), formerly the Reform the Armed Forces Movement. RAM played a key role in the 1986 revolution. Two of its key officials, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, were present at Sunday's event. Touching Remonde described the commemoration of the 23rd EDSA People Power 1 as "the most touching" he had ever witnessed because of the presence of Enrile and Honasan. "Primarily because of the presence of the of the two major players of EDSA 1 in the person of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Gringo Honasan and other members of RAM whom we know were the ones that initiated EDSA one," Remonde said when asked on how touching the celebration was. In his speech, Enrile reflected on his experience during the first hours of the first EDSA revolution on February 1986. He also urged Filipinos to learn the lessons of EDSA 1 and live by its spirit. Crisis In her address, President Arroyo urged Filipinos to apply the boldness they showed in EDSA-1 to prevent the current world financial crisis from overwhelming the country and protect those hurt by the global downturn. "Our political stability today is one of the reasons why we have escaped thus far the worst effect of the global recession. If boldness is required of us today, it is the boldness that we must exercise to prevent the world crisis from becoming a Philippine crisis, and to protect those among our people most hurt by the global downturn," she said. Also, she said that while Filipinos should remember the four days of EDSA-1 it should not be to relive them but to learn their lessons. "Yes let us go back to those four days of EDSA-1, not to relive them, for history must move on, but rather record their lessons and refresh our spirit as a people against the new challenges of today," she said. The wreath-laying ceremony was to kick off this year's anniversary of the EDSA-1 Revolution. Also present at the ceremonies were Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and members of the diplomatic corps and the Armed Forces. This year's anniversary has the theme "Pag-asa ng Bayan: Sakrpisyo sa Pagbabago Para sa Kaunlaran (Hope of the Nation: Sacrifice for Change and Progress)." - with Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
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