Ensure dictators have no place in free country, Robredo urges Filipinos
President Ferdinand Marcos speaks from the Malacañang balcony after the dictator’s inauguration in this Feb. 25, 1986, photo. With him are his wife, Imelda, and his son Bongbong in combat attire. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY C. FERNANDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday called on Filipinos to ensure that no dictator will be put in power in view of the 47th anniversary of the declaration of martial law.
“Higit sa pag-alala, ang araw na ito ay isang panawagan sa ating lahat na maging kasangkapan ng katotohanan at katarungan,” Robredo said in a statement.
“Isang panawagan na gampanan ang ating iisang tungkulin na siguruhing walang lugar ang kahit sinong diktador sa isang bayang malaya. Tandaan natin na walang pinuno ang mas makapangyarihan sa kaniyang sambayanang pinagsisilbihan,” she added.
Robredo said that under former President Ferdinand Marcos’ regime, 70,000 individuals were jailed, 30,000 were tortured, over 3,000 were killed while hundreds of others vanished and just never found.
“Sa ating pagbabalik-tanaw, huwag sana nating kalimutan na hindi lang mga numero ang ating pinag-uusapan, kundi kuwento ng mga karaniwang tao na tulad natin—mga magulang, anak, kapatid—mga kapwa natin Pilipino na naging biktima ng isang malupit at mapang-abusong rehimen,” Robredo said.
“Ang iba sa kanila, mga bayaning nagpasyang tumindig sa kamay na bakal, kahit na buhay pa nila ang kapalit. Ang iba, ordinaryong mamamayan na nagsikap lamang manahimik at mabuhay nang payapa sa gitna ng pang-aapi ng diktadurya, ngunit naging biktima pa rin ng mga kampon ng isang administrasyong lasing sa kapangyarihan,” she added.
Robredo also lamented how those who stepped on thousands of Filipinos’ rights and the country’s freedom, and stole money from public funds are back in power.
“Pinipilit nilang baluktotin ang katotohanan nang walang kahit anong bahid ng hiya at pagsisisi, para sa pansarili nilang kapakanan,” Robredo said.
The fight however, Robredo said, is not enclosed against one family or one name.
“Ang labang ito ay laban sa pagkalimot, pananahimik, at pagkikibit-balikat. Kailanman ay hindi ito tunggalian ng dilaw at pula, at magkakaibang pulitika; laban ito ng bawat Pilipinong naniniwala sa demokrasya; laban ito sa kahit kaninong maglalakas-loob na abusuhin at lapastanganin ang mga taong nagluklok sa kanila sa kanilang kinalalagyan,” the Vice President said.
“May magtangka mang ulitin ang madilim na yugtong ito ng ating kasaysayan, sama-sama tayong titindig nang taas-noo at sasabihin: Hindi natin hahayaang umiral muli ang kadiliman sa ating bayan. Hindi dito, hindi ngayon, at hindi kailanman,” she added.
On September 21, 1972, then President Marcos declared martial law through Proclamation 1081. /jpv
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