De Lima slams Duterte admin for ‘idolizing’ ex-President Marcos

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and former President Ferdinand Marcos. (File photos from AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday slammed the Duterte admiistration for “idolizing” the late former President Ferdinand Marcos as the country marked  the 47th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.

In a statement sent from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame where she is being detained, De Lima  said remembering the dark days of dictatorship is timely as human rights violations are still happening under the Duterte administration.

“Napapanahon lalo ngayon ang paggunita sa deklarasyon ng batas militar. Ngayon ay muling nangingibabaw ang lagim at dilim na dulot ng karahasan at pagmamalupit ng isang administrasyong iniidolo si Marcos,” de Lima said.

De Lima also decried the killings and harassment of critics of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kabi-kabila ang mga pagpatay sa mga mahihirap, mga lider sa komunidad at mga nagtatanggol sa karapatan ng kapwa. Marami-rami na rin ang ginawang pagdakip at pag-uusig sa mga kritiko ng pamahalaan,” De Lima, a fierce critic of Duterte said.

De Lima advised the public to “resist any effort at historical revisionism of martial law” and maintain to fight for a society that is “grounded on truth, justice and freedom.”  /muf