25/02/2026
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
SENTRONG ALYANSA NG MGA MAMAMAYAN PARA SA BAYAN (SAMBAYANAN) – PANAY
February 25, 2026
RECLAIMING THE LEGACY OF UNITY: A CALL FOR VIGILANCE ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
Today, SAMBAYANAN-Panay stands in unwavering solidarity with the entire Filipino nation in commemorating the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This historic milestone remains the most definitive, sacred triumph of our people’s collective will—a moment when millions of Filipinos, from every walk of life, every corner of the archipelago, linked arms as one to dismantle systemic corruption, end widespread government abuse, and reclaim the democratic birthright that is our shared heritage.
The legacy of EDSA is no dusty relic of the past—it is a living, active mandate entrusted to every generation of Filipinos. It reminds us that democracy is not a gift to be taken for granted, but a trust that demands perpetual vigilance. It teaches us that good governance—rooted in transparency, accountability, and genuine public trust—can only be won and protected through the same fearless, unifying action that defined 1986.
Yet as we honor this legacy, we must remain resolute and unblinking in our vigilance against those who seek to distort and desecrate it. SAMBAYANAN-Panay vehemently and unreservedly condemns the CPP-NPA-NDF for its shameless, brazen exploitation of this sacred national milestone. It is an affront to our history, and an insult to the memory of all who marched, prayed, and stood their ground 40 years ago without firing a single shot, that a group defined by armed struggle and radical destruction would attempt to hijack the peaceful, people-led legacy of EDSA to lend false legitimacy to its violent agenda. This is not just a distortion of history—it is a cynical deception that betrays the very values EDSA represents.
We further condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the senseless, brutal terrorist acts perpetrated by the CPP-NPA—most notably the cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians, particularly across the island of Negros. These heinous acts are not “revolutionary” by any stretch of the imagination; they are cruel, cynical exploitation of the highest order. By preying on legitimate public grievances and unmet needs to fuel its bloodshed, this group betrays the peace, justice, and freedom that EDSA was fought for. These acts have left families shattered, communities gripped by paralyzing fear, and our region’s progress held hostage—with zero regard for the lives and well-being of the very people it claims to represent. Such violence has no place in a democratic society, and it will never be justified.
OUR CALL TO ACTION
We issue this urgent call to every Panayanon, every lover of freedom across Western Visayas: stand united once more, as our forebears did 40 years ago.
Let us defend our hard-won democratic institutions and our way of life from the twin, intertwined evils of corruption and terrorism. Let us reject the deceit of groups that cloak their destructive agenda in the language of the people, only to inflict harm and suffering on the very communities they claim to serve.
Let us honor the spirit of EDSA not with empty words, but with unyielding, collective action: demanding and building governance that is transparent, accountable, and unwavering in upholding the dignity, rights, and safety of every Negrense and every Panayanon. Together, we will build a Western Visayas that is free from fear, rooted in peace, and driven by shared progress for all.
Laban para sa Kapayapaan. Laban para sa Demokrasya. Laban para sa Bayan.
REFERENCE:
Winefredo C. Doblizo Jr.
Coordinator, SAMBAYANAN-Panay
Contact No.: 09126995371