FILE PHOTO: A mural depicting the September 23, 1972, declaration of martial law and other historic events greets pedestrians at the newly spruced up Lagusnilad underpass in Manila. The proclamation of military rule enabled President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to stay in power as dictator. INQUIRER/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) should design a plan to implement a law that mandates teaching martial law in schools, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Tuesday.
According to Pimentel, the measure that institutes martial law has a problem with its actual application.
“Actually, nasa law na ‘yan (that’s under the law). We have many laws na hindi talaga na-implement (that are not implemented). I am aware of one law na nakasulat ‘yan (where it is written) that should be taught ‘yung (the things) that happened during the martial law years under then-president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. must be taught in schools,” he said in an interview at the Senate in Pasay City.
READ: Forum: Martial law is not being properly taught, analyzed in class
“The law is correct that that part of our history should be taught pero ‘yung content sa pagtuturo hindi nga na-implement so nobody can say kung tama o mali. Hindi pa na-execute. So, ang DepEd siguro should come up with a plan on how to implement that law and then show the people the details of the content of that course curriculum,” he pointed out.
(The law is correct that that part of our history should be taught but the content in teaching is not being implemented, so nobody can say if it is right or wrong. So, maybe the DepEd should devise a plan to implement that law and then show the people the details of the content of that course curriculum.)
Pimentel, as a member of the minority bloc, promised to put checks and balances in the country’s history to prevent revisionism.
READ: De Guzman, Bello want martial law era taught in high school, college
“Bantayan nga namin. Kaya andiyan ang minority to check. ‘Yung history dapat—‘yung identity kasi natin as people hindi ganu’n kalakas. Kailangan balikan natin ang history — shared suffering natin, shared joys din natin, shared triumphs,” the senator committed.
(We will guard that. The minority is there to check. Our history—our identity as people is not that strong. We need to go back to our history — our shared suffering, shared joys, shared triumphs.)
The incoming DepEd secretary is Sara Duterte, who is also the country’s Vice President-elect and running mate of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator.
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