In Cebu, rallies target Marcos Jr.

CEBU CITY—The commemoration here of the People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 zoomed in on what former detainees and at least 15 militant groups said should be the target of those who don’t want a repeat of one-man rule foisted on the country by the late ruler Ferdinand Marcos—his son Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr.

Airing alarm over the recent rise of Marcos Jr.’s ranking in surveys, members of the Anti-Bongbong Coalition (ABC) said Filipinos should be reminded about the “dark” martial law days.

But should the younger Marcos, now a senator, be blamed for his father’s faults?

Dr. Rhodora Bucoy, a professor of the University of the Philippines Cebu and lead convenor of ABC, said the 58-year-old senator was equally liable since he also benefited from his family’s alleged stolen wealth.

“He benefited from the excesses of the dictatorship. The Marcos loot helped him live like a Marcos prince after the Edsa (People Power Revolt) and rebuild his political career,” Bucoy said at a news conference here on Thursday.

For so long, she said, people who struggled against the Marcos dictatorship faded into the background.

“But today, the anti-Marcos forces have awakened. We will unite with the Filipino people in strengthening democracy by foiling the return of the dictator’s unrepentant son,” Bucoy said.

ABC will be formally launched at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Cebu Sports Club.

The group held its first press conference on Thursday as the country marked the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

Shouts of “Never Again to Martial Law,” “Never Again,” “Never Forget” and “No to the Return of the Marcoses” reverberated inside the conference room where members of ABC gathered. They also carried pictures of Marcos with X marks.

The group plans to mobilize its student-members to paint X marks on all campaign posters of Marcos in Cebu.

Results of a Social Weather Stations survey released last week showed Marcos sharing the top spot with Sen. Francis Escudero in the vice presidential race.

A manifesto of ABC said Marcos loyalists did not only survive but are trying to revive the reign of the Marcoses.

“They did not just thrive. They went about muddling memories of our nation’s painful past and supplant it with lies about the dictator. We lament that 30 years after Edsa, the democracy we won remains flawed,” the group said.

One of ABC’s members, retired Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes, said he could never forget how human rights were violated during martial law.

He said he was among student activists who were detained for a year when martial law was declared on Sept. 21, 1972.

“Instead of taking the bar exams at that time, I was placed behind bars,” Paredes said.

Every Filipino, he said, should never forget how people fought to restore freedom and democracy which were taken from them by the Marcos regime.

“Edsa (people power) did not solve the basic problems of Filipinos. There are still dynasties, corruption and poverty. But Edsa paved the way for us to regain freedom,” Paredes said.

“Martial law was a reign of evil and terror. All rights were suppressed. If you want to revive those moments, then let Bongbong win,” he added.

Like Paredes,
63-year-old Romulos Dingcong was also detained during martial law for being a student activist.

Dingcong, a native of Negros Occidental, was tortured by members of the Philippine Constabulary and was detained in Cebu for three years.

“There was a time when they submerged my face into the toilet and locked me in a dungeon for a month,” he said.

Dingcong said he hoped Senator Marcos would be rejected by voters.

“The elections are a game of money and evil. If you have the machinery and money, there’s a big possibility that you will win. We won’t allow Bongbong to use all these things so he will become Vice President,” he said.