Martial law victims’ group hits ‘historical lies’

MANILA, Philippines — A group representing victims of martial law urged the public to “reject all forms of Marcosian tactics and historical lies” on the 104th birth anniversary of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos yesterday.

“It is with utmost rage and condemnation that we remember this day. For us who were among those who challenged his fascist reign, Marcos’ birth date reminds us of the countless human rights violations and massive plunder that his regime had committed,” said Danilo dela Fuente, Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) national vice chairperson and spokesperson.

He noted that under Marcos’ regime, “thousands of Filipinos were illegally arrested, detained, tortured, killed and forcibly disappeared. The nation’s coffers were also emptied and the national debt ballooned due to his family’s lavish lifestyle and his cronies’ corruption. His evil shadow still haunts us to this day.”

Dela Fuente accused the Duterte administration of supporting the Marcoses by allowing the dictator to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“It is outrageous to see how… President Duterte shamelessly professed his love for the late dictator by coddling the latter’s family and patterning his so-called governance after the late dictator’s reign of terror. Furthermore, it is utterly infuriating that this administration is sponsoring a bill to ‘honor’ Marcos, despite his bloody record,” he said.

Dela Fuente also said that as COVID-19 cases surge, “this administration was even able to replicate how Marcos worsened the economy by putting us in trillions of debt. It feels like we’re trapped in a nightmare.”

The SELDA official also criticized plans by the late dictator’s son, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., to seek a national post as “delusional.”

“He already lost his vice presidential bid before, mainly because of the Filipino people’s resistance to his family’s historical lies and schemes to politically rehabilitate their blood-stained records. If he formally files his candidacy, we won’t hesitate to campaign against him. We cannot allow a sore loser and a dictator’s despicable son to run this country,” the group said.