MARTIAL Law victim gathered at the University of the Philippines’ Balay Kalinaw last Monday to denounce plans to bury former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The veteran activists who underwent torture and imprisonment under the dictatorship said they will not allow attempts by the Marcos family to rewrite history and picture the late strongman’s regime as clean and faultless. (Divine C. Miranda)
Martial Law victims filed a petition before the Supreme Court yesterday opposing President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of Heroes).
The petitioners said that the Philippines will be a laughing stock of the rest of the world if a president it ousted in 1986 for his gross human rights violations, corruption and immorality would be honored as a hero 30 years later.
Marcos is set to be buried at the cemetery in September. Read more
Four elderly women Martial Law victims in Central Luzon talk about the dictatorship and Senator Ferdinand Marcos’ run for the vice presidency.
The Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses in Malacañang (CARMMA) received a helping hand from popular 1970s mecha Voltes V.
At a gathering yesterday at the Araneta Center, “Voltes V” slashed and stabbed a photo of Senator and vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos dressed as the cartoon show’s evil Prince Zardoz.
CARMMA members distributed leaflets enumerating the Senator’s “sins” and culpability under the 30-year iron-fisted rule of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Here is a video of yesterday’s event.
In this podcast, Martial Law survivor Jose Ma. Sison talks about the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship and the dangers of electing Senator Ferdinand Marcos as the next vice president of the Philippines.
Sison, who was heavily tortured and imprisoned in isolation for many years by the Marcos dictatorship, blames the two Aquino governments for their failure to prosecute the Marcoses for their crimes and allowing them to regain political power.
“Itanong Mo Kay Prof” is a special podcast that presents an alternative analysis of issues that affect the Filpino people.
Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson of International League of Peoples’ Struggle with Ilena Saturay on Martial Law and Plaza Miranda bombing.
March 28, 2016
The Philippine National Police’s efforts to block progressive groups from holding a rally at the EDSA Shrine last February 25’s commemoration of People Power 1’s 30th anniversary smacks of Martial Law tactics.
This was the complaint aired by the newly-formed Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses in Malacañang (CARMMA) as it led thousands of protesters in a march from the corner of Edsa and Connecticut Street in San Juan City as official celebrations led by President Benigno Aquino have finished.
“Nasaan ang diwa ng EDSA sa pagpigil sa atin? Bakit kailangan nating makipag-gitgitan sa mga pulis upang kamtin ang ating karapatan?” CARMMA convenor Bonifacio Ilagan asked during his speech. (Where is the spirit of EDSA in stopping us? Why must we push against the police to exercise our rights?)
CARMMA was joined by militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), and others as well as Martial Law-era activists and members.
The protest rally sought to remind Filipinos — especially so-called millenials (those born after the turn of the millennium) — of the horrors of Martial Law and how little substantial change happened under subsequent governments since 1986
They also vowed to derail Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vice presidential bid, noting that his candidacy seems to be gaining currency among young voters.
The protesters clashed with the police which tried to block them at least three times. At the fourth barrier at the corner of Edsa and Ortigas Avenue, the police brought to bear steel barriers and a truck forcing the militant to hold a program at the intersection.
The protesters questioned the police’s show of force against their ranks, calling it ironic and reminiscent of Martial Law. They also questioned the presence of policemen, saying that there they had more important things to do than getting in the way of peaceful protests.
Marcosian law
The police for their part said the protesters failed to present a permit from authorities, citing dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Batas Pambansa 880, also known as the Public Assembly Act of 1985.
“Kung meron silang permit na dala, ok sana. walang problema sa amin. Pero ang utos sa’ amin is that iko-contain lang sila,” police ground commander Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo was quoted by ABS-CBN said. (If they [protesters] had a permit with them, then it would’ve been fine with us. But our orders were to contain them.)
The police blockades were augmented by elements of the Philippine Army as well as fully armed Special Weapons and Tactics teams.
A firetruck from the Bureau of Fire Protection was also present behind the fourth and final police line.
Unfazed
The police, army and firefighters’ combined presence failed to stop the militants, however.
The protesters pushed on with their program, with speakers recalling the importance of protest rallies in bringing down the Marcos dictatorship,
“Ipagtanggol po natin ang tunay na diwa ng pagbabago, at ito po ay hindi ang pagpapalit ng mukha ng nakapuwesto. Ito po ang pagpapalit ng power relations, ng political and social structures.” Ilagan said. (We must defend the true spirit of change. It is found not in the changing of whoever is in power; it is the changing of power relations and political and social structures.
“Ito po ay ang pagbibigay ng karapatan sa inyo, ang karaniwang mamamayan,” Ilagan added. (It is the giving back of power to you, the ordinary masses.)
Youth leader and Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisostomo gave praise to the “brave souls who fought during Marcos’ regime, and continue to do so to this very day.”
Crisostomo also reminded the protesters that the spirit of EDSA is not about the street or shrine itself, but the people:
“Tuloy po ang rebolusyon. Huwag ninyong hanapin sa estatwa ang pagbabago. Wala sa EDSA ang rebolusyon,” Crisostomo said. (The revolution goes on. Don’t look to a statue for change. You will not find the revolution in EDSA.)—by Abril Ayad Ayroso
Enraged by the unexplained decision to prevent them from commemorating the 30th anniversary of the People Power uprising, militant groups overpowered the Philippine National Police to reach the EDSA Shrine at the corner of the famous thoroughfare and Ortigas Avenue.
Waiting their turn after the official program led by President Benigno Aquino this morning, the protesters led by groups such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses in Malacañang (CARMMA) wanted to march all the way to the shrine but the police tried to block them.
During their own program, the groups took turns warning about the possible return of dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s family to Malacañan Palace with Ferdinand Jr.’s vice presidential bid in the coming national elections.
They also condemned the police actions as reminiscent of Martial Law policies.
Human rights victims and defenders speak at the national gathering of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacanang (CARMMA) at the Bahay ng Alumni in U.P. Diliman last Monday.
Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Sr., and former senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Rene Saguisag joined hundreds of other human rights victims during Ferdinand Marcos’ 27-year rule as they chanted “No more Marcos!”
Among the speakers were Marie Hilao-Enriquez of KARAPATAN, Joanna Cariño of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), Bishop Arturo Asi of the UCCP (United Council of Churches in the Philippines), and Bonifacio Ilagan of the FQSM (First Quarter Storm Movement).
(Repost)
Ito ay panayam kay Crisanta Gorospe, isang negosyante at magsasaka sa Mexico, Pampanga. Siya ay pinaghinalaan na sumusuporta sa mga NPA noong panahon ng batas militar at madalas na nire-raid ng mga sundalo ang kanilang bahay.
Mexico, Pampanga
September 17, 2014