OVP clarified the deleted statement commemorating the EDSA anniversary was posted mistakenly

The office of Vice President Sara Duterte admitted that they mistakenly uploaded a statement encouraging the public to “uphold” the spirit of the EDSA People Power uprising, which they subsequently deleted hours after its initial posting on Sunday.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Duterte explained that she removed the statement from her social media pages as she had not originally intended to issue a statement commemorating the 38th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

The vice president also reiterated her stance on EDSA, stating that her position has remained unchanged since 2017. This reference was made in relation to her previous questioning of why EDSA has become the “standard of freedom” after her father, former President Duterte, faced criticism for allowing a hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The deletion of the statement came after the OVP confirmed to reporters that it was taken down due to being mistakenly posted by its social media team. However, they declined to provide further details on the official reason for its removal.

The now-deleted statement from the OVP emphasized the importance of remembering the lessons of EDSA, including the power of unity, the strength of the Filipino spirit, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

The posting and subsequent removal of the statement triggered speculation among hyperpartisan vloggers regarding potential rifts between Vice President Duterte and President Marcos Jr.

Despite this speculation, Duterte assured reporters in a recent interview that her relationship with President Marcos Jr. is “okay” and that they have “no problem with each other.”

While human rights groups and members of civil society commemorated the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Sunday, the Malacañang excluded the event from the list of holidays in 2024.

Had the OVP not removed the statement, it would have marked the first time that Duterte issued a statement commemorating the EDSA People Power, a significant event in Philippine political history.

In response to the incident, Kabataan Partylist (KPL) emphasized that the EDSA uprising should not be used as ammunition by the Marcos and Duterte political camps. They reiterated that EDSA I represents the uprising of the people against abusive and corrupt tyrants, including Marcos Sr., President Duterte, and even Vice President Duterte herself, referencing her alleged involvement in the drug war.

News: OVP clarified the deleted statement commemorating the EDSA anniversary was posted mistakenly