The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) on Saturday blasted Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s comparison of his Senate bloc’s political struggle to the fight waged by opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship, calling it “laughable,” “insulting” and “delusional.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, ATOM said Cayetano’s remarks distorted history: “Take your ‘L,’ not as ‘Laban’ (Fight), but as ‘Lapastangan’ (an insult). An insult to the values that Ninoy Aquino and the Filipinos who toppled the Marcos dictatorship fought for.”
ATOM, founded in 1983 by Agapito “Butz” Aquino after Ninoy’s assassination, argued that Aquino fought “fascism, corruption and the lack of accountability” — values it said Cayetano’s camp opposed.
The group accused Cayetano of hypocrisy for previously endorsing the Marcoses in 2022, adding: “You are not revolutionaries. You are ‘delusionaries.’”
The group renewed its call for Cayetano’s resignation, alleging he and his allies obstructed the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte.
ATOM is now led by younger figures including Volt Bohol, Bien Gonzales, historian Michael “Xiao” Chua and Eiyo Aquino, grandson of Butz. # (ZIA LUNA)
