Martial law still alive today

The whole nation revisited last Sept. 21 the darkest period in Philippine history, which was marked by martial law declared by President-turned-dictator Ferdinand Marcos 44 years ago.

We, from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Mindanao, reiterate the call for justice for all the victims of the dictatorship, as well as for the victims of the continuing state fascism.

We also express our strong objection to the burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The people, so did campus and mainstream press, went through grave human rights violations during the long years of martial law. Marcos’ burial in the Libingan would be an affront to the countless activists, media people and Guild alumni who fought against oppression and asserted the freedom of the press and expression during the dictatorship.

Guild alumni suffered during the dark days of martial law. Among them, Satur Ocampo, Judy Taguiwalo, Neri Colmenares. Others, like Emman Lacaba, Lorena Barros and many more ended up brutally killed.

During martial law, Marcos, recognizing the ability of student councils, publications, organizations and youth formations to unite, mobilize and organize people and their ranks for militant actions against repression, ordered their closure. And many of the student activists who dared go against the regime were mercilessly tortured, killed or disappeared.

Hence, we call on the Duterte administration to scuttle, once and for all, whatever plan it has to bury Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Today, martial law is very much alive, not only in the memories of those who survived its atrocities, but also in the plight of the everyday Filipino—workers, peasants, youth,  lumad  and the urban poor who continue to grapple with the ever-worsening economic and political crisis.

In educational institutions, school administrations have become effective instruments of the state in repressing freedom of expression. We feel this in the form of funds withheld, censorship, meddling advisers, administrative interventions, threats and harassment.

The Guild continues to fight for a campus press that is free from any interference by school administrations and the state. We also call on all campus journalists to stand for their right to expression. Nothing could be more critical to our success in this fight than our collective action, with support from the whole studentry.

The experience of the Filipino people, especially of the youth, during the reign of the US-Marcos dictatorship gave us valuable lessons and opened a wide arena for creativity in advancing the national democratic struggle. Let us never allow state brutality to dampen our militant spirit. The fascist acts of the reactionary state should be steadfastly and courageously exposed and opposed. We should strongly demand justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. And most of all, let us fight and uphold campus press freedom.

ROCHAMAE M. BIHAG, vice president for Mindanao, College Editors Guild of the Philippines