The reporting of events on torture and other human rights abuses during the dark years of the Marcos martial rule is something the Inquirer should never tire of doing.
Fr. Benjamin E. Alforque wants today’s young Filipinos to be told of those horrible years and of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. (“‘I’m afraid but I must write to let young people know’,” Front Page, 9/21/14). That is very appropriate.
I do not know if our elementary or high school students still have Philippine History as a subject, like I had from my elementary days to high school. If they have that subject, I do not know if the criminal actions by the military and the police during the martial law period, and the rapacity of Mr. Marcos and his wife Imelda are ever mentioned. If not, then it should be and not just for 40 or so minutes.
I have noticed that young Filipinos do not know about those years and the horrors inflicted on hundreds of innocent people. Imelda Marcos is still idolized by many Filipinos who have no sense of history whatsoever, and her children keep getting elected!
I was a Philippine Air Force captain serving as an instructor at the Philippine Air Force Flying School where I was assigned from graduation day in April 1966 and I, along with my friends there, were surprised by the declaration of martial law. I was one of those who voted for Mr. Marcos when he ran for reelection, believing he would lead the nation to greatness. Boy, was I ever wrong!
One more thing the Inquirer should report on is: Where are those military men identified by Father Alforque and the other torture victims? Are they still alive? Have they admitted to the crimes on humanity that they did? Let bygones be bygones? There will be no closure to that. Those who tortured the South African blacks during the Apartheid were identified and they admitted what they did, and there was closure for them and their victims.
—ROCKY B. DENOGA,
retired colonel, Philippine Air Force,
rocden41@yahoo.com