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Advocates Philippines
The Aquino Family Reacts To VP Sara Duterte's Statement Comparing Duterte To Ninoy Aquino
Duterte FILE
The Aquino family isn’t having it.
Vice President Sara Duterte recently issued a stark warning to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, about the risks of returning to the Philippines, drawing a comparison to the fate of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
In a statement, VP Sara recounted a conversation with her father:
”‘Yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, ‘yan din ang katapusan ng buhay mo. Magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka,’ I told him. And he replied, ‘Kung ganyan ang kapalaran ko, then so be it, basta lang mauwi ako sa Pilipinas.’”
This remark did not sit well with the Aquino family. They were quick to push back on the comparison, emphasizing that what happened to Ninoy was vastly different from Duterte’s current situation.
A Different Story Altogether
The late senator Ninoy Aquino was a fierce critic of the Marcos dictatorship. After years of exile, he returned to the Philippines in 1983, only to be assassinated upon arrival at the Manila International Airport—an event that became a turning point in Philippine history.
For the Aquino family and many historians, equating Duterte’s potential return to Ninoy’s tragic fate is misleading. While Ninoy was a political prisoner and an opposition figure silenced by a dictatorship, Duterte, they argue, is not in the same position.
Aquino Family’s Response
A source close to the Aquino family reportedly said they were “deeply troubled” by the statement, noting that it distorts historical events. According to them, Duterte, who once held the highest position in the country, is facing legal battles and investigations, but his situation does not compare to Ninoy’s.
“History speaks for itself. We should be careful in drawing parallels between events that are fundamentally different,” one family member was quoted as saying.
The remark also sparked online discussions, with many Filipinos questioning the validity of the comparison. Some pointed out that Duterte, unlike Ninoy, was not a political exile but rather someone facing accountability for alleged crimes committed during his presidency.
Vice President Sara Duterte recently issued a stark warning to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, about the risks of returning to the Philippines, drawing a comparison to the fate of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
In a statement, VP Sara recounted a conversation with her father:
”‘Yung kagustuhan mo na umuwi, ‘yan din ang katapusan ng buhay mo. Magiging Ninoy Aquino Jr. ka,’ I told him. And he replied, ‘Kung ganyan ang kapalaran ko, then so be it, basta lang mauwi ako sa Pilipinas.’”
This remark did not sit well with the Aquino family. They were quick to push back on the comparison, emphasizing that what happened to Ninoy was vastly different from Duterte’s current situation.
A Different Story Altogether
The late senator Ninoy Aquino was a fierce critic of the Marcos dictatorship. After years of exile, he returned to the Philippines in 1983, only to be assassinated upon arrival at the Manila International Airport—an event that became a turning point in Philippine history.
For the Aquino family and many historians, equating Duterte’s potential return to Ninoy’s tragic fate is misleading. While Ninoy was a political prisoner and an opposition figure silenced by a dictatorship, Duterte, they argue, is not in the same position.
Aquino Family’s Response
A source close to the Aquino family reportedly said they were “deeply troubled” by the statement, noting that it distorts historical events. According to them, Duterte, who once held the highest position in the country, is facing legal battles and investigations, but his situation does not compare to Ninoy’s.
“History speaks for itself. We should be careful in drawing parallels between events that are fundamentally different,” one family member was quoted as saying.
The remark also sparked online discussions, with many Filipinos questioning the validity of the comparison. Some pointed out that Duterte, unlike Ninoy, was not a political exile but rather someone facing accountability for alleged crimes committed during his presidency.
Mar 24, 2025
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