September 21, 1972 was a DAY of INFAMY -- MARCOSES’ WAR on the FILIPINO PEOPLE
Ferdinand E. Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law was an illegal and unconstitutional self-serving move to make himself a Hitler, a dictator that brought untold sufferings to the Filipino people.
The immediate illegal arrests and detentions of patriotic public figures, Senators Diokno, Soc Rodrigo, Lorenzo Tanada and Benigno Aquino, Congressman Ramon Mitra, as well as press personalities Maximo Soliven and Chino Roces, heartlessly shut up the democratic voice of the people.
The dictator, with the "legal" backing of Juan Ponce Enrile, along with the traitorous armed support of the AFP and the Philippine Constabulary, closed down the Senate, House of Representatives, and turned the Supreme Court into a willing Marcos puppet.
Media Control
Imposing a curfew nationwide, he forcibly took over all the TV and Radio stations, and newspaper companies all over the country.
He made himself an all-powerful king-like head-of-state retaining under his complete control The Daily Express and TV Channel 4, as the only source of news for the Filipino people.
Marcos's military takeover of all government institutions was a regime that mercilessly suppressed the people’s basic freedoms of assembly, of speech, of the press, and their right to move around freely.
Communist Rebellion
From 1972 to early 1986, dictator FE Marcos plundered the nation’s coffers, giving special business and political favors to cronies, relatives and dynast politicians. Critics among the professionals, workers, farmers and students were arrested and jailed.
Using the lame excuse of a “Communist Rebellion,” dictator Marcos ordered military personnel to watch out for any gathering of five or more people, as they may be plotters against his government.
With his gestapo-like minions, Marcos protected his political and economic power by ordering the torture, detention, disappearance, murder and massacre of more than 200,000 Filipinos, as estimated by the Human Rights Violation Memorial Commission. Thus, dictator Marcos and his family rapaciously accumulated their billions of ill-gotten wealth.
Filipino Patriots
BUT let it be known that countless Filipino patriots stood up to Marcos’ dictatorship.
The “Mosquito Press,” a proliferation of "guerilla" newspapers disseminated the news of crimes committed by the illegal government. Countless college students, while still maintaining their standing in their studies, as well as professionals, actively joined urban-based underground groups initiating creative ways to undermine the government’s fascist rule.
Thousands more boldly went full-time fighting the fascist regime, by joining the armed resistance put up by the CCP/NDF/NPA, convinced that only a revolutionary response is the answer to a bankrupt, brutal, bloody, plunder-prone, and corrupt autocratic leadership.
Courageous Struggle
September 21 every year is a day of remembrance of the courageous struggle of the countless Filipinos, who endured atrocities, imprisonment, disappearance and death, to end Marcos’ dictatorship.
This day commemorates their bravery and self-sacrifice to overthrow dictator Marcos, and to recognize their heroism as Freedom Fighters.
Today, September 21, 2024, the PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOVEMENT, members coming from the Evangelical, Protestant and Catholic Churches/Communities, do hereby join Filipinos of goodwill in thanking and honoring all who fought the Marcos’ martial law regime.
And we pledge to continue the fight for good governance under the questionable leadership of Marcos’ son, Bongbong and Sara, the daughter of former president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who brought back, among others, the corruption and atrocities of Marcos’ martial law regime.
“Never Forget, Never Again to a Dictatorship!”
(Editor's Note: Ka Boni Macaranas is a Martial law survivor and former political prisoner. A staunch truth seeker, Ka Boni is the current chair and president of the People's Choice Movement, an interfaith organization which primary goal is to put to office God-centered and competent leaders.)
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonColumn #ColumnbyBoniMacaranas #PoliticsIsLife