Solons want martial law subject in college curriculum, PMA

In this file photo, an actor portrays a victim of summary execution during martial law during the staging of the play “Never Again” at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City, which seeks to remind the people of the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship. INQUIRER FILE

MANILA, Philippines — A subject on martial law should also be taught in other universities and colleges nationwide, and not just in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.

This was the earnest proposal of progressive lawmakers from the House Makabayan bloc, citing that even the Philippine Military Academy should include a subject on martial law in its curriculum.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago made the call Friday, after UP Diliman announced that it would offer a general education subject for its students called “Philippine Studies 21: Wika, Panitikan, at Kultura sa Ilalim ng Batas Militar.”

For Zarate, the martial law period should be tackled in all higher education institutions (HEIs) to combat pro-Marcos revisionist claims and raise more awareness on human rights violations during the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Kung dapat pag-usapan ba ito sa mga unibersidad, dapat pag-usapan sa unibersidad ang martial law para mai-raise sa ating national consciousness ang madilim na kabahagi ng pahina na ito sa kasaysayan,” Zarate said.

“At para malabanan din ang rebisyonistang naratibo na nilalako ng mga pro-Marcos at kahit sa admin na ito that enables the comeback of the Marcoses and white-washes sa mga kasalanan ng mga Marcos,” he added.

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago said she would file a resolution that would push for the adoption of a martial law subject in all HEIs.

“Dahil ang nilalaman nito ay hindi lang naman tungkol doon sa mismong batas militar kundi doon sa wika, panitikan at kultura at lipunan noong panahon ng batas militar,” she said.

By May 2015, a total of 75,730 persons have filed their claims as human rights violations victims during the martial rule before the Human Rights Victims Claims Board.

Over 100,000 people were also recorded to have been victims of human rights violations during martial law from 1972 to 1981 – 70,000 of whom were arrested, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed by the military and the police, according to a report by Amnesty International.

READ: Remembering Martial Law under the Marcos regime

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