Justice remains elusive for martial law victims

It has been 29 years since the late former strongman Ferdi—nand Marcos declared martial law but the smell of gunpowder still permeates in the air for human rights victims of the Marcos regime.

"We can still vividly remember what happened during the martial law years. It will forever be etched in our minds, especially now that justice remains elusive for us," said Dr. Aurora Parong, executive director of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).

By virtue of Proclamation 1081, Marcos declared martial law 29 years ago today because of what he claimed then were "wanton destruction of lives and property, widespread lawlessness and anarchy, chaos and disorder."

"Democracy died the day martial law was imposed. For decades, Filipinos lived under military atrocities," said Parong who was detained from July 6, 1982 to Dec. 31, 1983.

The declaration ignited activism in the Philippines, forcing many to join the underground movement to end the repression.

TFDP records showed that some 22,2876 people were arrested by the military from 1972 to February 1986 when the Marcos family was ousted from power at the height of the People’s Power Revolt.

Most of the victims suffered various forms of torture in the hands of the military like the so-called water cure, Russian roulette, electrocution, "ice therapy" and even sexual abuses.

The TFDP said 706 of those whom the military arrested and snatched then have remained missing.

Parong called on President Arroyo yesterday to release a total of 165 political detainees who remain in jail at present.

"Unless all political detainees are released from jail, there is no democracy in our country. These remaining detainees must be freed because they did nothing but to fight for their rights and democracy," she said.

Parong also asked the Arroyo administration to help the martial law victims get justice from the Marcoses and their military captors.

She complained that they are starting to lose hope that they will get justice because many of their tormentors have gone back to power.