NDF/NDF-NCMR: 45th Commemoration of Marcos’ Martial Law, a resurrected zombie under US-Duterte Regime

NPA-North Central Mindanao Region propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Sep 21): 45th Commemoration of Marcos’ Martial Law, a resurrected zombie under US-Duterte Regime

PRESS STATEMENT
September 21, 2017

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines – North Central Mindanao Region (NDFP-NCMR) fervently condemns the US-Duterte’s martial law, which does not have a big difference of Marcos’ martial law, 45 years ago. However, the state’s fangs became sharper in implementing this, considering the massive killings which already victimized more or less 10,000 already.

Widespread human rights violations

 It could be recalled that under the horrifying martial law of Marcos, 3,240 were killed through salvage and summary executions, 70,000 were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 1,000 were desaparacedos. Marcos successfully implemented these through scrapping the writ of habeas corpus and through the predominance of military forces over all aspects of the society.

To manipulate public opinion, Marcos shut-downed all media stations and suppressed them from exposing the facts under his dictatorship. This resulted to extensive press freedom violations. The people were also deprived of their right to organization and assembly.

Up until now, thousands of the victims and families of those victims were still echoing for justice. Bunch of those who were abducted are not yet being surfaced.

Despite of the grave injustice of the previous martial law, US-Duterte Regime was still determined in imposing this in Mindanao and even threatened the public to implement this nationwide.

At present, not less than 200,000 families forcedly evacuated from their communities in Marawi City. Thousands of civilians were killed, including those who died in the evacuation center and those tagged as ‘Maute’ who were killed by the soldiers. 29,250 displaced students are also at the evacuation centers and forcedly stopped from going to school. Not less than 100 civilians are also missing until present.

Aside from Marawi City, the Lumad in the countryside are also experiencing human rights violations, under the concealed OPlan Kapayapaan of Duterte. Through his martial law, the soldiers, policemen, and its paramilitary groups are licensed to harass, kill, threat and violate the basic rights of the Lumad. Hence, up until now, the Lumad are still in their shanties in front of the Capitol Grounds in Bukidnon to demand the end of militarization in their communities.

On July 12, members of PNP Public Safety Company arbitrarily arrested a couple Ryan and Gretchen Espera, member of Kasama-Bukidnon, a peasant’s progressive organization in the province. Members of the 8th Infantry Battalion also arrested peasants Roel and Eric Calolot on June 23, in Purok 9, Kiburiao, Quezon, Bukidnon and were forced to claim the bombs which were taken by the soldiers. Troops of 58th IB also committed a frustrated killing to Roy Ibarat of Pangalasag, based in Opol, Misamis Oriental. Soldiers also indiscriminately fired the farmers in Purok 1, Magsaysay, Quezon, Bukidnon on September 9.

Duterte’s counter-insurgency program served to suppress the people’s basic rights. Checkpoints became rampant so they could investigate the innocent civilians. In our region alone, it is estimated that not less than 150 checkpoints have been installed. This will become worse through the National ID System which aims to make the state manipulate every individual’s information. If this would be fully implemented, Philippines will never be far to becoming a police state. On July 24 for example, during Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), military and policemen, through their mounted checkpoint, forcedly held 2,500 civilians from attending a protest action in Iligan City.

Of exceedingly idolizing Marcos, Duterte manipulated the AFP to dominate the information environment to suppress the people from knowing the incidents. He may not shut down media stations, yet there is the dictate and monopoly of whatever statement or news to spread. Hence, only the state could propagate in the news which are mostly fake or half true and half lies. This is implemented by his US puppet-to-the-bones accomplice Lorenzana, Esperon, Año and dela Rosa (LEAD).

No other interest: to dominate the economic power

 In Marcos’ martial law, the country suffered from the $28.3 billion foreign debt. This was due to his installation of different infrastructures, just like the farm-to-market roads, bridges and of cluttering corruptions under martial law. US monopolies were allowed to have permanent economic enclaves by the creation of free trade zones, where they are beyond the tax laws of the Philippine puppet government. Marcos and his cronies such as Rodolfo Cuenca, Herminio Disini, Roberto Benedicto, and Eduardo Cojuangco benefitted from the imposition of terror. With this, Marcos also secured an ill-gotten wealth range from $5-35 billion. Up until now, this was not returned to the people, the rightful owner of the wealth.

Duterte’s martial law is also the same. While there are a lot of civilians who were treated as “collateral damage” in the OPlan Tokhang, he also implemented his plans of installing different infrastructures, through his “Build, build, build.” He submitted Marawi to his businessmen/capitalists accomplice so they could “rehabilitate” this and enjoy the large amount of fund indebted from China which would eventually make the Philippines as “debt slave.”

To acquiesce the US’ “war on terror,” he bombed Marawi and its adjacent communities almost every day which abet the AFP another P1 billion additional budget for the purchase of bombs, ammos, and fuel. This would be another racket for corruption of the generals. He bluffs about exterminating the “terrorists” which is in fact, exterminating the people’s legitimate struggle. This war on terror is only a concealment to ultimately squeeze out the country’s remaining resources.

People’s struggle

 The two dictator’s basis of imposing martial law is common: the people’s struggle.

The Filipino people greatly struggle during the Marcos dictatorship. This could be seen with the founding of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) on 1964. On 1968, Communist Party of the Philippines was also reestablished and was followed on 1969 by the New People’s Army (NPA). The people’s discontentment became blatant. The fascist dictator Marcos then imposed martial law on 1972.

Also at present, the revolutionary movement strengthened. Mass bases of the revolutionary movement expanded, NPA fighters increased in numbers, the resistance of the Moro people and of the national minorities intensified, and the demands of the oppressed and exploited became widespread.

Hence, it could be remembered that instead of conducting peace talks with the NDFP, Duterte instead demanded to sign a bilateral ceasefire. Since US-Duterte regime failed to do so, he just implemented martial law.

But more than remembering the dark days of the Filipino people during Marcos’ martial law, we should also remember the heroic uprising of the people which decisively paved way to the end of martial law. Through EDSA People Power Uprising on 1986 and through the armed struggle, the repugnant martial law was scrapped and the fascist dictator was ousted. It could be remembered that thousands of activists, especially among the youth and students, held arms to ultimately fight the fascist dictator.

Hence, the NDF-NCMR call upon all the people to further strengthen our unity and resist martial law in Mindanao and its pending implementation nationwide. We will never allow the horror of martial law which was already at its wake 31 years had passed! #

For Reference,

Cesar Renerio
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front – NCMR

https://www.ndfp.org/45th-commemoration-marcos-martial-law-resurrected-zombie-us-duterte-regime/