Pacete: Martial law and the Negros scenario

Pacete: Martial law and the Negros scenario

TODAY, we mourn in remembering Martial Law declared by then-president Ferdinand E. Marcos on September 21, 1972. That was the day our democracy died.

Marcos made sweet promises when he declared Martial Law. “Martial Law is a revolution from the center, in sum, a democratic revolution to establish a new society under a regime of constitutional authoritarianism that would democratize wealth and discipline oligarchs and redress the grievances of the rebellion of the poor.”

He further embroidered, “it would reform the political system through the participatory democracy of citizen assemblies and put an end to the old politics of conflict and the vertical view of society thus making it authentically human.” It was too late for Filipinos in those days to realize that sweet words could be deceiving.

The Negros Scenario

Before Martial Law, some big-time sugarcane planters were unmindful of the president and his first lady. For the “orgulloso Negrense” (proud Negrosanons), Marcos was an “a fuera” (outsider). The president could be rich in his province but he did not have the lineage of a Negrosanon sugar baron.

First Lady Imelda Marcos was always the subject of the talk of the Negros “Indays” from “buena familias” or the “alta sociedad.” “Is it true that Imelda was once a Cinderella?” There were even “alegatos” (allegations) that when the FL was invited to the party hosted by a top leader in his mansion, the Peeping Toms enjoyed. Those perceptions said in whispers hurt Malakas and Maganda.

For his “venganza” (revenge), Marcos hit the sugar industry. The once independent Sugar Producers’ Cooperative Marketing Association (SPCMA) was put to crumble and that paved the way for the resignation of the legitimate stockholders and the members of the board. Marcos knighted his best friend in Negros to become the sugar czar. That started the collapse of the sugar industry. Hacenderos, millers and hacienda workers lamented the demise of the industry.

During that time, I was the president of the college supreme student council of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod. Many student leaders, especially the members of the Kabata-ang Makabayan (KM) and National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), were arrested without due process. The Philippine Constabulary (PC) in Negros Occidental was under Lieutenant Colonel Marino Filart. Those who were blacklisted were subjected to warrantless arrest, interrogation, physical and sexual torture.

Some oligarchs of Negros did not have a choice but dance with the music of Marcos and praised the “Bagong Lipunan.” Other political leaders in towns and cities toed the line of the dictator for their political survival and some of them were even catapulted without election sweat to the Batasang Pambansa or the National Assembly reputed to be a rubber stamp legislature.

Two Columban priests assigned in southern Negros, Fr. Niall O’ Brien and Fr. Brian Gore were charged with multiple murder and sent to jail with nine other church followers under the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. The two priests were just active in their socio-spiritual work for the “Kristianong Katilingban” (Christian Society).

In the duration of Martial Law Days, the priests in the churches of Negros stood their ground against the abuses of those in power. Msgr. Antonio Y. Fortich of the Diocese of Bacolod, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee and a nominee for Nobel Peace Prize led his flock to stand for the truth and peace. He launched the social amelioration programs for the poor and the oppressed.

Msgr. Fortich, also known as “Kumander Tony,” opened a social action center under Fr. Luis Jalandoni. He allowed another two priests to organize the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) for the oppressed hacienda workers. He opened a small sugar mill cooperative for the small farmers and worked hard for the liberation of the sacadas.

Another bloody incident in northern Negros happened when the Home Defense Force (HDF) fired on a crowd of 500 farmers, students, fisherfolks, religious group leaders and priests who were attending a protest rally in Escalante. Twenty to thirty persons were killed and thirty were wounded. That incident caught the attention of the world. More Martial Law stories in Negros could still be narrated.

Let us have a pause from our lamentation to pray that the Filipinos will have the courage to oppose leaders who want to resurrect Martial Law. No to dictatorship! Yes to freedom with justice!

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