Bongbong’s version of martial law

LINO BROCKA filmed his masterpiece “Insiang” in the slums of Smokey Mountain in Manila for a reason. The legendary director wanted to give the world a picture of severe urban poverty in the Philippines under the Marcos regime.

Almost three decades after the Edsa Revolution toppled the dictatorship, nothing much has changed for the Filipinos. Poverty remains virtually unabated, and the Marcoses still hold important elected positions in government. Which tells us what kind of democracy was restored and is being maintained post-Edsa. Almost three decades have passed and the Marcoses and their cronies continue to enjoy unlimited political and economic freedom. As a matter of fact, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has already announced that he is running for vice president in next year’s elections.

Well, let’s just say, for the sake of discussion, that that is how liberal democracy works. But Bongbong’s claim that his father was the “greatest president” we ever had is so disturbing that I can’t help but question the senator’s state of mind: Is he out of his mind? What is he trying to imply? That there was nothing wrong with the way his old man ruled the country?

Hundreds of thousands were murdered, mutilated, abducted, tortured, raped, imprisoned and abused during Ferdinand Edralin Marcos’ reign of terror in the Philippines. Under the banner of “New Society,” democratic institutions were abolished while civil liberties were curtailed in response to the growing public discontent with the Marcos administration. Martial law was declared to protect the vested interests of foreign monopolies and the local ruling elite against the supposed communist plot to overthrow the government. (And yes, then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile faked his own ambush to justify Marcos’ declaration). Crony capitalism was in full swing as the gap between rich and poor widened. And here comes the dictator’s son proclaiming his father’s greatest achievements?

By all means, Bongbong should be reminded that his father was not a savior; he was a plunderer, a lapdog of the United States, a despot, and no amount of infrastructure projects can disguise the bankrupt, debt-ridden economy he left the Filipinos after fleeing to Hawaii in 1986. And not even a “Thrilla in Manila” or a grandiose Miss Universe Pageant can gloss away the gross human rights violations of the regime.

History is bound to repeat itself if we choose to go silently into the night. Let’s make the voice of reason prevail over fascism and fanaticism. Never forget the horrors of martial law.

—DANIEL ALOC, [email protected]