Protests vs martial law also staged in provinces

RALLIES AGAINSTMARTIAL LAW A militant leader (left photo) calls for peace during the commemoration of the declaration of martial law at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna province. In Cagayan de Oro City, young people gather at the Press Freedom Monument to denounce the atrocities committed by theMarcos regime. KIMMY BARAOIDAN/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON AND JIGGER J. JERUSALEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

BACOLOD CITY—Survivors of martial law and activists on Wednesday joined protest actions in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo to mark the 44th an niversary of the declaration of martial law and denounce plans to bury the remains of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In Bacolod, about 50 of around 1,000 victims of martial law who brought indemnification claims against the Marcos estate for abuses they suffered during the dictatorship gathered in front of the Fountain of Justice on Araneta Street to protest the burial plan.

They carried streamers that said “Marcos not a Hero” and “Justice for the victims of martial law.”

Many of those who joined the mass action were relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings, imprisonment and torture during martial law.

In Iloilo City, about 70 activists, including martial law victims, held a rally at Plazoletaga to oppose the burial of Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

They carried placards and streamers denouncing the refusal of the Marcoses to acknowledge widespread torture, killings and other human rights violations during martial law and the culpability of their family for those abuses.

Rallies in Bicol

In Bicol, members of militant groups allied with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) held rallies in the six provinces in the region to demand justice for victims of human rights violations during martial law.

Vince Casilihan, spokesperson for Bayan, said rallies were held in the cities of Naga in Camarines Sur province, Legazpi in Albay, Sorsogon in Sorsogon province, and Masbate in Masbate province, and in the towns of Virac in Catanduanes province and Daet in Camarines Norte.

In Cagayan de Oro City, people who were not even born yet when martial law was declared joined those who have experienced state brutality in a march-rally to mark the anniversary of martial law.

Deemz Badilla, 18, a community development student at Tagoloan Community College in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental province, and Anakbayan area coordinator, had to skip class so she could participate in the protest to condemn the atrocities of martial law.

“I don’t want it to happen again during my generation. I hope President Rodrigo Duterte will not declare it,” Badilla said referring to talks that the President is considering on proclaiming a state of martial rule in the country.  Reports from Carla P. Gomez and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas; Mar S. Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Jigger J. Jerusalem, Inquirer Mindanao