Press Statement

First Quarter Storm Network(FQSN)-USA

San Francisco, CA

Contact Person: Pons De Leon

August 21, 2007

The First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN) on the 24th Year of the Aquino Assassination, August 21, 1983

“ Different times, different tunes, Different crowds, different songs.”

This situation characterized the twenty fourth-year commemoration of the martyrdom of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr, today August 21, 2007. On August 21, 1983, Benigno Aquino Jr. was murdered by the armed forces of the US-Marcos Dictatorship right after being arrested inside the jet plane that brought him back to the Philippines.

hile his son, newly elected Senator Noynoy Aquino and his mother,former President Corazon Aquino stand remained unchanged that “the mastermind of the assassination must still be found”, former Marcos loyalists Senator Juan Ponce Enrile asked for closure and clemency for the soldiers who took part in the assassination plot.

On his part, former Enrile chief bodyguard, Senator Gringo Honasan, the leader of various coup against former President Aquino sung praises for the coups that he led and proclaimed that this “ bad things led to economic

development” Malacanang on their part choose to be quiet on this occasion.

For the First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN) in the United States, the commemoration of the 24th year of the martyrdom of Senator Aquino only highlights how great the political divisions in the Philippines have aggravated during the last 24 years.

Anti-Marcos Politicians Anti-Communist Propaganda

The FQSN strongly condemns and bewails how the old anti-Marcos politicians like former Senators Jovito Salonga and Eva Estrada Kalaw used the occasion to vainly revise history and spew their anti-communist and anti-Jose Ma. Sison propaganda. They have been active since 1986 in blaming the revolutionary movement and attributing the crime of the US-Marcos dictatorship, the Plaza Miranda bombing of August 21, 1972 to the movement.

By admitting that the movement used them as pawns, Kalaw and Salonga looks pathetic. By allowing themselves to be the spokespersons of the black propaganda of the Philippine military and the United States intelligence

and propaganda agency, Salonga really deserves to be awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for “public service” and for his “integrity” by serving in the anomalous PCGG.

The FQSN will not take it lightly while Salonga and Kalaw and their alter-ego rejectionist writer Benjamin Pimentel and their fellow travelers both in the Philippines and the United States sullied the memories of

FQS martyrs Danilo Valero, Danny Cordero, Cecilio Apostol,Amor Espinas and others who gave their lives for the people and who valiantly fought the US-Marcos dictatorship.

The commemoration of the two August 21st in Philippine history brings out the best and the worst of people. Former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.went home despite the threats to his life and sacrificed his own life to fulfill his promise to his people by coming home.

But even after the despotic Marcos regime was overthrown by the people, a more despotic US-Arroyo regime emerged. More than 883 Filipinos have lost their lives fighting for freedom and democracy and many more are still missing like Jonas Burgos and others and are still in jail like Pastor Berlin Guerrero.

On the other hand, the masterminds of the two August 21 tragedies still has the temerity and callousness by the prodding’s of the US-Arroyo regime to reclaim their wealth, enjoy privileges in high places and flaunt their power. Their minions like Enrile and Honasan who caused untold sufferings to the Filipino people had no remorse and goes on plotting to claim powers for themselves.

We have high hopes that the Filipino people who are actively resisting and fighting for freedom and democracy will finally end the tyranny of the ruling class and their minions who made mockery of justice and tried to make fools out of the Filipino nation.



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