Legarda Praises Egyptians' Fight for Freedom

Senator Loren Legarda today praised the Egyptians' nonviolent struggle for democratic reforms that ushered in a peaceful transition of power, ending President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year reign.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that the Egyptians have expressed the sovereign will of the people as the Filipinos did in 1986.

"I congratulate the people of Egypt for their gallant stand for the restoration of their universal rights. Egypt has entered a new era in its democratic life. The appointed military caretakers, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, will now have to create the pathway that will allow Egypt's people to come together and carry out changes in ways that will actualize their aspirations for a truly democratic and progressive Egypt," she said.

The Senator also said that the international community must extend its support to the immediate transition of the country into a "new Egypt" that will be governed by civilian authority. This, she said, will prevent a power vacuum that could be exploited by certain groups who have interests that would go against the people's will and the peace efforts in the Middle East.

"The community of nations is hopeful that the new government of Egypt would remain committed to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, particularly its 1979 peace accord with Israel," she explained.

Meanwhile, Legarda urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to continue its efforts towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the remaining Filipinos in Egypt.

"The situation in Egypt deserves careful monitoring. Our government, particularly the DFA, must look at and recommend ways by which we can lend our support to the on-going change process in Egypt. "We have been through the same process before, and it behooves us to lend our hand to Egypt in the spirit of solidarity for the protection and promotion of the universal rights of its people," she concluded.