Bicol militants to join martial law protests

LEGAZPI CITY – Thousands of militant activists led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Bicol (BAYAN-Bicol) and Bicol Movement Against Tyranny (BMAT) will join other militant groups in commemorating the 46th anniversary of martial law declared by former President Ferdinand
Marcos on Sept 21, 1972.

Dan Balucio, leader of Bayan Bicol, said over 1,000 activists from across Bicol would participate in the nationwide protest action Friday to remember the dark days of martial law when the country was ruled by a dictator for over two decades.

“The memory of the dark dictatorial days would be remembered and shared so that the people would be awakened and be united against the rising incidence of human rights abuses,” Balucio said.

Several busloads of activists left Bicol on Wednesday to converge at the University of the Philippine (UP) Diliman in Quezon City.

Balucio said, while they were traveling to Manila, they were stopped at police checkpoints in the towns of Calauag, Gumaca, and Atimonan in Quezon province.

He said expected at the program on Friday in UP Diliman are resource persons who were activists during the First Quarter Storm that fought the Martial Law regime.

A rally would also take place to call for justice to the victims of human rights abuses and to expose the true condition of the country under President Duterte, Balucio said.

Balucio said there are at least 51 victims of extrajudicial killings in Bicol. MAR S. ARGUELLES