Former martial law detainees, groups form anti-Marcos Jr. coalition in Cebu

Senator Bongbong Marcos
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

CEBU CITY – Former Martial Law detainees and at least 15 militant groups in Cebu on Thursday formed a coalition to campaign against vice presidential aspirant, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the only son of Dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Alarmed by the recent rise in survey rankings of the senator, members of the Anti-Bongbong Coalition (ABC) saw the need to remind Filipinos about the “dark” years in the country’s history under the reign of the senator’s father.

But should the young Marcos 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 benefitted from the family’s stolen wealth.

“He benefitted from the excesses of the dictatorship. The Marcos loot helped him live like a Marcos prince after the Edsa (People Power Revolution) and rebuild his political career,” Bucoy told a news conference at Handuraw Pizza Cafe in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City on Thursday.

For so long, she said people who struggled to end 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.

The 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 Filipinos marked the 30th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution that ended the 20-year reign of the senator’s father.

Shouts of “never again to martial law,” “never again,” “never forget,” and “no to the return of the Marcoses” reverberated inside conference room of Handuraw Pizza Cafe where members of the group gathered. They also showed photographs of Marcos with huge X marks.

The group is planning to mobilize its student-members to put X marks on all campaign posters of Marcos in Cebu.

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

READ: Marcos, Escudero share top spot for VP in SWS poll
A manifesto of ABC said the Marcos loyalists did not only survive but were also working hard 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 the student-activists who were detained for a year when the 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 bring back freedom and democracy which were taken from them by the late President Marcos.

“Edsa (People Power) did not solve the basic problems of Filipinos. There are still dynasty, 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.

READ: What Ramos wants to tell millennials 30 years after Edsa revolt

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

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

“Dihay panahon nga ila gimod-mod ang akong nawong sa inudoro, unya gibartolina ko sulod sa usa ka buwan. (There was a time when they submersed my face in the toilet, and locked me in a dungeon for a month),” he said.

Dongcong is hoping Senator Marcos will not be elected vice president, a position that is only a heartbeat away from the presidency.

“The election is a game of money and evil. If you have the machineries 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. CDG

READ: IN PHOTOS: Edsa People Power Revolution through the years

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