Sen Bam Aquino, DILG Asec Echiverri grace Malolos Congress anniversary celebration

CITY OF MALOLOS – Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary for External and Legislative Affairs Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri joined thousands of Bulakenyos in celebrating the 119th Anniversary of Malolos Congress held at the historic Barasoain Church, Friday morning.

Representing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Asec. Echiverri said that the president has three things that he wanted to convey to thousands of attendees so that the legacy of the country’s heroes will live on; one is to be open to talks about federalism, second is his real policy when it comes to issues on illegal drugs and lastly, the question about the barangay elections.

“Hindi po namin ipinipilit. Ang sinasabi lang po namin, pag-usapan, pag-aralan at maging bukas sa konsepto ng federalism. Naglalayon po itong ibalik at bigyan ng mas malaking pondo ang mga lokal na pamahalaan,” Echiverri said.

He also clarified that deaths and killings are not the president’s policy, rehabilitation is.

With regard to barangay elections, Echiverri said that it is still on hold and pleaded to all the barangay officials to step down if they are involved in drugs.

“Mayroon tayong 160,000 na kapulisan, 420,000 po ang barangay officials. Ako na po ang nakikiusap sa inyo, kung kayo po ay sangkot sa droga, mag-resign na po kayo, wala kayong puwang dito, pagbigyan n’yong maglingkod ang mga may puso talaga sa paglilingkod. At kung sangkot po ang pulisya sa droga at sa mga patayan, hindi din po namin sila kukunsintihin,” the DILG assistant secretary said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Aquino stressed that though Filipinos have been free from colonizers 119 years ago, new and unending adversaries still face the country.

“Ang kinakaharap na natin ngayon, kawalan ng edukasyon, kahirapan, kaguluhan at kawalang oportunidad sa bayan kaya kailangan nating maging mga bayani muli. Kung may pwede tayong gayahin mula sa Kongreso ng Malolos, ito ay ang pagsasama-sama sa kabila ng kaibahan ng isa’t isa bagaman hindi nila alam kung matatapos nila o hindi ang laban, para sa bayan,” Aquino said.

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado for his part underscored the importance of Malolos Congress that gave birth to an independent and republican government and also emphasized the reasons why one should want to keep coming back to Bulacan.

“Binabalikan natin ang dating landas sa ating kabundukan, ang mga daan tubig na hinawi ng mga bangka, ang maringal at masinghayang kultura at kalinangang namumukadkad, ang lalawigang kinasisingkawan ng suga ng ating pagkabansa. Binabalik-balikan natin ang Bulacan ng ating magiting na kahapon,” Alvarado said.

Earlier on, Echiverri, Aquino and Alvarado together with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Executive Director Ludovico Badoy, Vice Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, board members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad and Vice Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian led the flag raising ceremony, oath to the national flag and wreath laying ceremony at the statue of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the First Philippine Republic.