With Marcoses around, martial law horrors come alive

It happened decades ago. But an impaired ear and disquieting memories refuse to assure him that it’s all over now. They say time heals. But it looks like not that easy for the victims of the Marcos dictatorship. Like Dan Lagdaan of Selda (Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto).

He was to tell his story during an “anti-martial law” Mass, to strengthen the resolve of people to never allow the return of dictatorship in our country. But he found out that Imelda Marcos was also to attend the Mass.

A martial law victim and the matriarch of the family that led the plunder of the nation’s coffers, terrorized lives and ruined the future of many young and brilliant Filipinos were in the same church—Baclaran Church—at the same time, for the same Mass, expectedly with their own personal prayers to God, sins to confess, and reasons to be thankful for.

Imelda, in a wheelchair, still carried herself with glamour as she used to when she was the first lady. And she had bodyguards and a nurse to attend to her needs.

Dan, commuting from his home, had to wrestle with fellow commuters during rides to get to the church. He would go home alone, passing by a small store to buy turmeric capsules for his maintenance.

When Dan learned she was also in the church, he felt the days of terror during martial law come alive. As if the whole experience happened just yesterday. As he told his story, he didn’t bother to look her in the eye, but he knew her ears were on him, even if she remained stoic and “imeldific.”

He was a member of the Kabataan Makabayan, among those who protested the demolition of their community in Tatalon.

He transferred to Pasig on July 12, 1975. He was arrested and forced to admit that he knew a certain Commander Ipo whom he had never heard of. He was tortured, which made him almost deaf. Even as his whole body was in pain, his torturers threatened to kill him, pointing a .45 caliber pistol at him. They mentally tortured him as well.

In Baclaran Church, did God reveal himself as a champion of justice and a liberator? Was God in a dilemma over who to listen to, and whose and which prayers to grant?

After his narration, Dan proceeded to see the exhibit outside the church. Titled “That We May Remember,” it was a photo-essay of the experiences of church people who were victims of the dictatorship and how they learned ways of and found courage in carrying out their prophetic roles. Some were killed, others disappeared, many were arrested, detained and tortured. Outside the church, Dan sat, “trembling” a little as he told us: “I do not believe that I am secure when she is around. The Marcoses could still harm me. We have colleagues who are still missing.”

Dan, a senior citizen now, still wishes that the Marcoses will never again get back to Malacañang. Imelda probably is praying nowadays for her son to get elected as vice president. Whom will God favor?

We say, “NEVER AGAIN” to martial law, NEVER AGAIN to dictatorship!

—NORMA P. DOLLAGA, Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (Kasimbayan)