With truth at a juncture, history in danger of turning into a blur, there is need to affirm integrity and justice as cornerstones of our democracy.
We, former student regents of the University of the Philippines, who were at the frontlines of the student movement of our times, refuse to honor Ferdinand Marcos, tyrant and plunderer, as a hero. No matter where he is buried, Marcos cannot avail himself of swaying politics to gloss over a regime of abuses, atrocities and corruption. Despite the Supreme Court’s legalistic acquiescence to President Duterte’s campaign promise to the Marcoses, notwithstanding outright condoning, whitewashing and apologism, there must be no historical revisionism.
The legacy of Marcosian thievery, intolerance and brutality is well-etched into that of the position of the UP Student Regent, a seat Ferdinand Marcos kept vacant all throughout martial law. It took a generation’s worth of sacrifices and struggles to reinstate democratic institutions and cherished rights in the academe.
With the relentless, unrepentant return of the Marcoses—complicit all—we link arms again. During the bleak days of rampant cronyism and authoritarianism, there, too, were a few good men opposed. Not this time.
We will join in the streets the many who stand for truth and accountability for the various sins of Marcos against the people. We echo the call for justice—with recognition and reparation—for thousands of martial law victims, especially those disappeared and those denied the dignity of a funeral. We guard against the repeat of the horrors. For so much that cannot be undone, we will never forget. And with hope of redress and genuine healing, we will always remember.
FRANCIS PANGILINAN, BONG BONGOLAN, HENRY GRAGEDA, ARIEL B. TANANGONAN, SAHLEE CARIÑO-CAMPOSANO, LEO B. MALAGAR, DENNIS BENJAMIN M. LONGID, KRISTINE CLARE C. BUGAYONG, JPAUL MANZANILLA, MARCO M. DE LOS REYES, KEN LEONARD B. RAMOS, RAFFY JONES G. SANCHEZ, SHAHANA M. ABDULWAHID, CHARISSE BERNADINE I. BAÑEZ, CORI ALESSA C. CO, MARIA KRISTINA C. CONTI, CLEVE KEVIN ROBERT V. ARGUELLES, KRISTA IRIS V. MELGAREJO, NEILL JOHN G. MACUHA, MIGUEL ENRICO AGUILING PANGALANGAN