The August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) criticizes Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for comparing his group’s political struggle in the Senate to the fight waged by the late opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship. In separate statements reported by Inquirer.net, Atom describes Cayetano’s comparison as “laughable,” “insulting,” and “delusional.” Atom also takes issue with Cayetano’s use of the “Laban” hand sign, a gesture associated with the anti-authoritarian movement. The group calls Cayetano “Lapastangan,” a term Atom uses to characterize what it portrays as disrespectful or improper use of a symbol linked to the Ninoy Aquino legacy. Atom further clarifies, in a separate report, that the “L” sign stands for “Laban,” not “lapastangan.” The reactions reflect a dispute between Atom and Cayetano over both the historical comparison and the meaning or usage of the “Laban” sign in the context of contemporary Senate politics.