Cebu-based progressive groups stage anti-Marcos rally on 50th anniversary of Martial Law

A scene during the Anti-Marcos demonstration on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 in downtown, Cebu City. | Wenilyn B. Sabalo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Members of Cebu-based progressive groups, including the BAYAN- Central Visayas, held a protest rally on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in line with the 50th anniversary since the declaration of Martial Law in the country in 1972.

The almost three-hour protest march started on Sergio Osmeña Blvd. and ended downtown on Colon Street in Cebu City. The rallyists also stopped by in front of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas compound.

Jaime Paglinawan, BAYAN- Central Visayas chairman, said they organized a protest to publicly express their opinions that matter in today’s society.

“Atol niining ika-50 katuig nga kasumaran sa Martial Law, padayon mi nga nagduso nga mahatagan og hustisya ang biktima sa diktadurang Marcos. At the same time pod, padayon mi nga nakig-bisog sa kasamtangang administrasyong Marcos Jr. sa grabeng nasinati nga kalisod ug kawad-on,” he said.

(In line with the 50th anniversary of Martial Law, we continue to fight so that justice be bestowed on the  victims of the Marcos dictatorship while at the same time we continue our fight against the administration of Marcos Jr., which brought more hardships to our countrymen)

Among the cause-oriented groups that joined in the rally are the Akbayan Youth, Piston-Cebu, AMA-Sugbo KMU, and Panaghugpong-Kadamay Cebu.

For Paglinawan, months after Marcos Jr. assumed office, they do not see any ‘silverling’ in his administration.

“Gipadayon lang sa administrasyong Marcos, Jr. ang mga polisiya sa mga previous nga administrasyon ug ilabi na ang polisiya ni Duterte. Padayon ang kalisod; ubos ang suhulan. Padayon ang kontraktwalisasyon, ug gipadako ang budget-para namo, budget sa korapsyon,” he said noting the amount of the proposed budget sought by the Office of the President and Office of the Vice President.

(Marcos Jr., only preserved the policies of past administrations, especially the Duterte administration. Poverty is still prevalent, pay is still low, contractualization continues and the national budget increased which is actually for corruption.)

The protest was generally peaceful, except to the slight commotion in front of the PRO 7 when a man who was taking photos of the event, was confronted by organizers of the demonstration.

The man reportedly presented himself as a member of the media covering the event, but was not able to present an identification to prove his claims.

The rallyists then demanded that the man delete the photos, which they said, were taken without their permission, but the man refused, resulting in a commotion.

The police then tried to separate the two camps.

In a separate interview, Police Lieutenant Colonel Mary Crystal Peralta, information officer of the PRO 7, they are currently investigating the matter and checking the protester’s permit to rally.

The demonstration ended after protesters destroyed an effigy of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who declared Martial Law in 1972.

/bmjo

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