(Eagle News) — Senators on Monday called on the public to continue to be brave in defending the country, noting the heroism of war heroes and veterans.
Senate President Koko Pimentel said in a statement this was “a time when the country needs all its citizens, not to fight in trenches, but to make the Philippines better for Filipinos.”
“Filipinos never failed to respond to the call of duty when their country needed them..It’s time to aim our sights higher… We are no longer locked in a struggle for survival, but a struggle for better lives,” he said.
Filipinos “must continue to be valiant in defending our country from all forms of threats; not just from foreign invasions, but also from threats found within our own nation,” he added.
Senator Grace Poe agreed, saying “history calls upon us to live out the same courage and bravery of our forefathers by doing our duties as channels of peace, builders of society, movers of economy and generators of ideas.”
She also hailed the Special Action Force 44, who died in the botched Mamsapano operation in 2015; the soldiers who fought in the Marawi siege; crime fighters; peacekeepers; and ordinary citizens, saying they “have proven the genuine courage of the Filipinos.”
Senator Francis Pangilinan agreed, adding that “every Filipino who offers blood, tears and sweat, strength, joy, and taxes, is brave.”
He, however, also indirectly criticized the administration when he said “the killing of drug suspects is wrong, the imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima is wrong, misogyny is wrong, giving away Philippine islands is wrong, having zero NFA (National Food Authority) rice stocks is wrong, and many more,” and that “all Filipinos who fight against oppression and right the wrong are valiant.”
“Balewala ang paulit-ulit na retorika tungkol sa pagmamahal sa bayan, kung inuudyukan naman ang pagpatay sa libo-libong Pilipino, lalo na ang mga inosente at walang kalaban-laban. Walang pagka-makabayan sa pagsuko sa dangal at teritoryo ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa,” De Lima said, echoing Pangilinan’s statement.
“Maipapamalas ito sa paninindigan at pakikipaglaban para sa tama at makatwiran, at sa pagmamalasakit sa kapwa at bansa,” she added.