The activist group August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) condemned Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's use of the 'Laban' sign in a livestream, as well as his comparison to the late Senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr., citing concerns over the politicization of symbolic resistance gestures in the Philippines.
The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM), an activist group, publicly denounced Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on June 14, 2026, for employing the iconic ‘Laban’ sign during his June 12 livestream event and drawing parallels between himself and the late senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr. ATOM president Volt Bohol stated that while ‘Laban’ means ‘to fight’ and is a powerful symbol historically associated with opposition movements during the Marcos Sr. regime, its use should represent genuine struggles for freedom rather than serve personal political agendas. During its Walk Against Corruption demonstration in Makati City, ATOM called for Cayetano’s resignation and urged legal action against government officials involved in aiding Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa’s escape. Additionally, the group criticized Cayetano’s comparison to Aquino, asserting that the senator’s actions stray significantly from Aquino’s legacy. ATOM also supported initiating impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte and condemned the Sandiganbayan court’s recent dismissal of cases related to the Marcos family’s alleged corruption. Cayetano, responding via social media, clarified that he does not claim a monopoly on Aquino’s heroism nor compares himself directly to the late senator, but aligns with the values Aquino fought for. The situation unfolded amid tensions in the Senate following Cayetano’s ousting as Senate president on June 3 and ongoing disputes about the chamber’s leadership and political affiliations. As of the report’s publication, Cayetano had not provided additional comments to the news media.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/991394/atom-decries-alan-peter-cayetano-s-use-of-laban-sign-comparison-with-ninoy-aquino/story/
