Ninoy Aquino's family, legal experts, labor leader reject Sara Duterte's comparison

The family of democracy icon Ninoy Aquino, legal experts, and labor leader Luke Espiritu have refuted Vice President Sara Duterte's comparison between her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and the late senator.

Vice President Duterte likened Rodrigo Duterte's potential return to the Philippines under arrest to what happened to Ninoy Aquino upon his return in 1983, which led to his assassination.

Former Senator Leila de Lima criticized Vice President Duterte's statement on Monday, emphasizing that Aquino returned to fight for democracy while Duterte seeks to avoid accountability.

Labor leader Luke Espiritu expressed disapproval of the comparison and highlighted Rodrigo Duterte’s involvement in burying Ninoy Aquino's killer at Libingan ng Mga Bayani and his role in bringing back the Marcoses to power, contrasting it with Aquino's efforts against them.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reminded the public that former president Rodrigo Duterte had previously compared himself to Adolf Hitler and noted that Aquino had no record of crimes against humanity, unlike Duterte who faces trial at the ICC for such charges.

In a statement released through the Ninoy & Cory Aquino Foundation Facebook page, the family stressed that what was done to Ninoy is different from what former president Duterte is going through.