De Guzman, Bello want martial law era taught in high school, college

This is a combination photo of presidential candidate Leody De Guzman (left) and vice-presidential candidate Walden Bello. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Leody de Guzman and his runningmate Walden Bello want the history of martial law integrated in high school and college curricula.

De Guzman said education would help prevent martial law from being revived in the country.

“Kami, sa plataporma namin ni Walden, talagang ire-reconstruct natin ‘yung buong history ng naganap noong martial law at gagawin naming part ng mga kurso sa mga eskwelahan mula sa high school hanggang kolehiyo ‘yung tungkol sa naganap na martial para nang sa ganu’n ay ‘yang bagay na ‘yan ay iwaksi, i-reject na ng taumbayan at huwag na maulit ‘yung ganu’ng kasaysayan,” he said in an online presidential forum organized by Davao Association of Catholic Schools.

(In our platform, we intend to reconstruct the whole martial law history and we will make it a part of high school and college courses so that martial law will be rejected and it will not be repeated.)

De Guzman added that a law should also be passed that will make the denial of the atrocities committed during the martial law years a criminal offense.

The labor leader added that should he and Bello get elected, thy will make sure that historical revisionism will be stamped out.

“Titiyakin natin na ‘yung usapin ng rebisyonismo ay hindi iiral sa ating bansa,” he said.

(We will make sure that revisionism will not prevail in our country.)

Bello earlier commented that the country “cannot have national unity built on national amnesia.”

/MUF