Members of civil society organizations and faith-based associations joined the commemoration of the day when the late President Marcos placed the country under martial law on September 21, 44 years ago. Carrying pictures of victims of human rights violations, more than 1,200 participants gathered in the historic Plaza Miranda in Manila to remind the public that an authoritarian government should never be allowed to prevail again.
The 14-year military rule of President Marcos that started when he issued Presidential Proclamation 1081 in 1972 ended in 1986 when he was ousted by the people’s uprising known worldwide as the People Power.
The commemorative public action came after the incumbent head of state, President Rodrigo Duterte, signed Executive Order 11 on September 4 placing the entire archipelago under a state of emergency and calling on the military and the police to suppress “lawless violence.’ The order cited as a main reason the bombing of a market in Davao City which left 14 people dead and 71 others injured. The government blamed terrorists for the blast.
The Chief Executive has insinuated during his earlier visit to one of the military camps that he will not hesitate to declare martial law if necessary to attain his goal of curbing the vicious drug trade and criminality around the country.
According to Balay Rehabilitation Center, one of the organizers of the event, there is, at present, no foreign invasion nor widespread rebellion to justify an imposition of martial law.
Balay Executive Director Josephine Lascano pointed out that while the Davao bombing was lamentable and has to be denounced, the deadly violence appears isolated and that the government has enough power, as it is now, to contain the spread of terroristic activities in the country.
Lascano also said that the commemoration of martial law also sought to prevent historical revisionism prompted by the order of President Duterte to allow the burial of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Hero’s Cemetery).
The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the intended burial as it studies the petition filed by groups opposed to the president’s decision.
Zenaida Mique, a torture survivor read, during the program, an open letter intended for the dictators’ daughter, Imee Marcos, in response to her earlier statement asking forgiveness for her father. The open letter said that there can only be forgiveness if the Marcos family admits the gross human rights violations committed by the deposed strongman; return all the billions of pesos stolen from the people; assist the reparation for the victims of martial law; and stop the 1 million signature campaign to bury him at the heroes’ cemetery.
The commemorative activity was organized by the In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity or IDefend - a coalition consists of different civil society organizations, faith based groups, trade unions, and community associations. The event coincided with the observance of the International Day of Peace.
The rally participants also raised their objection to the mounting number of deaths related to anti-drug campaign of the Duterte Administration. Balay said that a ‘climate of violence’ appears to be rearing its ugly head again with the killing of more than 3,000 people as a result of the government’s “war on drugs” in the last three months. The deaths have been attributed to police operations against suspected drug pushers and users and to the vigilante-style executions of unknown assailants.
Lascano said that Balay was established in 1985 to provide a safe place for the healing of traumatized victims of torture and organized violence.
“Balay’s founding leaders and members have joined the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship so that democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights will prevail; we cannot allow anyone to take those rights away from us again,” she ended.