Marcos to Marcos: The continuous threatening towards the remnants of Martial Law Resistance

Dark Times of Philippine History

“When the current was so strong, I had to scream. Then, they hit me to keep me quiet. At the same time, they threatened to undress my wife and sister Amarylis in my presence.”

“A- slapped my face and neck with full blows until 1 sweated all over with pain and almost fainted. I was so unwell, continuously sweating, that Lieutenant A- became frightened.”

"When I asked for a warrant, they threatened to kill me. Then something hit me on the back of the head — I think it was a gun butt -- and knocked me unconscious. I just said yes to all the questions they asked. I signed a piece of paper, but I cannot remember whether it was blank or not. The effects of the blow from the gun butt damaged a nerve in the back of my head, so that my left eye is now atrophied."

These horrifying stories from the prisoners during martial law were only one of the many testimonies in a 1976 Amnesty International report detailing the human rights violations, torture, sexual crimes, and forceful arrest of opposition committed under Martial Law.

Furthermore, there have been around 3,240 documented extrajudicial killings; 34,000 have been tortured, 70,000 have been jailed, and 77 have gone missing. Keep in mind that these are only the cases that were officially documented, implying that the number is significantly larger when we consider the cases that have gone unreported.

This merely provided a summary of the facts and events during martial law, but it is sufficient to inform us that it was a terrifying time for the Filipino people, which explains why the Marcoses are so keen to wipe it from Philippine history.

How from Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr. continue to threaten the remnants of Martial Law Resistance

Not so subtle, numerous ways of the Marcoses are evident, and they did not happen overnight; they built it over time. One need not look further to see their ways; look back at what happened last national campaign and election.

One of Marcos Jr.'s most sinister actions is his vast disinformation campaign to “rebrand” and clean up his father's martial regime era. They easily used different social media platforms as their weapon to spread false information and blatant lies to rehabilitate their sordid image.

There was a lot of false information spread on different platforms, most especially on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, etc., with various claims and comments from internet trolls such as, “no poor Filipinos during the Martial Law”, “it is free to roam around, and people can watch the news,” and of course, the “Tallano Gold” that would make the Philippines “rich” again. These were only a few of the comments that can be read online.

According to data from the Fact-checking coalition Tsek.PH, BongBong Marcos benefited the most from the spread of disinformation in the country. In the data recorded by Tsek.PH in April 2022, 92% of the fact checks about Marcos were false information in his favor.

The prevalence of disinformation on the internet about Martial Law and the Marcoses blatantly contradicting historical accounts made it nearly impossible for the majority of users to discern fact from false. It also propelled the son of the former dictator to be back in power and use this for their own advantage and clear their name.

Furthermore, with the help of their allies (if they can still be called allies until now), it became easier for them to push through what they wanted to happen. The DepEd's Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) issued a memorandum on September 6, 2023, ordering the Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan curriculum to change the name of the martial law years from “Diktadurang Marcos” to “Diktadura.” This was another attempt of the Marcoses to vindicate themselves.

From disinformation, and troll farms, to their allies, all of these efforts of the Marcoses show how eager they are to attain their goal; distort the history and reclaim their glory.

The continuous fight for Martial Law victims

The history of Martial Law is the history of every Filipino’s struggle fighting against tyranny. The victims were not just mere numbers, they were humans, they had families, and they fought for the rights of every Filipino.

Unfortunately, this family invaded the Palace again. It is not a coincidence that the current situation under Marcos Jr. mirrors the martial law era under Marcos Sr.; rather, it is the continuation of a tragic history that they keep pushing.

It’s been 51 years, but justice remains elusive for a lot of victims and their families. It would be a great disrespect for them to allow disinformation and the distortion of history to prevail. But this must serve as a reminder that we need to fight again, keep remembering, and tell the truth. Remembering means honoring the people who risked their safety and lives so that others wouldn't have to go through what they did.

But remembering isn't enough; Filipinos should make a collective effort to keep the remnants alive and the fight for the victims going. Maximize all the weapons and platforms. Continuously report and debunk false information because this distortion of history also began with lies that spread online and grew bigger. Furthermore, institutions must continue to organize discussions and sessions that would educate people about Martial Law. Utilize other materials such as books, movies, plays, etc. There are many ways, and it should be maximized and utilized fully. Do not wait for tomorrow, because it always is the right time to step on the battlefield against historical distortion.

The spirit of “Never Again. Never Forget” is still thriving, so now more than ever, the Filipinos must act upon it.