ANAKBAYAN Southern Mindanao Region Spokesperson Beverly Gofredo, reiterates the oppression that the country has faced in the present administration, especially now that there is Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or the “Terror Law”.
Spearheading the annual protest rally in commemoration of the 51st anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines on Thursday morning, September 21, 2023, at the Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, Gofredo said that the current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has adapted his father’s way of political leadership.
“Walay kalahian ang terror law ni Marcos Jr. sa Martial Law kaniadto. Naglahi lang ang pangalan apan pareha kining ginagamit arun pahilumon ang mga kritiko, yanong aktibista ug katawhan (Marcos Jr.'s terror law is no different from Martial Law then. The name is different but it is used the same to silence critics, simple activists and people),” Gofredo said.
"Dili nato kalimtan sila Edgar Jopson, Liliosa Hilao, Archimedes Trajano, Maria Lorena Barros, ug uban pang mga kabatan-onan nga walay kahadlok sa pagduso sa hustisya, kamatuoran, ug demokrasya sa nasud (Let's not forget Edgar Jopson, Liliosa Hilao, Archimedes Trajano, Maria Lorena Barros, and other youths who are fearless in pushing for justice, truth, and democracy in the country),” Gofredo added.
The nationwide protest was participated by more than 50 human rights advocates and youth organizations from Southern Mindanao.
These were composed of activists from Kabataan, Anakbayan, Gabriela Youth Davao, Karapatan Davao, ACT Teachers-Davao Region, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Samahan ng Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Southern Mindanao Piston, students from Ateneo de Davao (AdDU) and University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min).
Aside from the injustices, accountability, and unresolved human rights issues during the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., protesters are also calling on the present administration to junk the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or the “Terror Law”; confidential funds of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte; and the alleged "worsening state" of human rights in the country.
On this day in 1972, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under martial law.
The statistics from iMPACT Leadership show that 107,240 were primary victims of human rights violations; 398 enforced disappearances from 1965 to 1986; 70,000 people detained for their political actions; P391 billion national government debt at the end of martial law and 34,000; people were tortured. DEF