Villarin: ‘There has been a backslide to dictatorship’

Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin believes that 46 years after, there has been a “backslide” to dictatorship.

“Definitely there’s a backslide to dictatorship 46 years after the declaration of martial law. Why am I saying this? Because our democratic institutions are now under attack,” he said in an ambush interview at Plaza Miranda.

Protesters on Thursday gathered at Plaza Miranda to defend democracy as the country marked the declaration of martial law under the regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

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“Supreme Court lost its independence with the ouster of a chief justice. You have Congress that has been relegated as just a mechanism for pork barrel for the allies of the administration,” he added, apparently referring to Ma. Lourdes Sereno who was ousted from the Supreme Court.

He also pointed out that there has been a “reign of untruth” due to the “historical revisionism” that is growing prevalent in schools and in media.

“And there’s a reign of untruth because of the historical revisionism that is now very prevalent sa school, sa media at pinapanumbalik sa atin na kung saan ‘yong dictatorship ni Marcos daw is the golden age of our country, which is not,” Villarin said.

“This is not good for our country especially now that we’re facing all the economic hardships, inflation, rising prices and of course there’s no direction sa governance under Duterte,” he added.

Church leaders, various social movements, trade union organizations, women’s groups, student councils and sectoral formations staged a rally at the Plaza Miranda on the eve of the 46th anniversary of the martial law declaration.  /muf