MANILA (UCAN): “It cannot be denied that this signaled a turbulent period in our history as a people. In the middle of the darkness, we saw a light. In the face of bad things, we learn lessons,” Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila, the Philippines, said in a statement on September 21, the 50th anniversary of the imposition of martial law by late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Cardinal Advincula said that Filipinos learned lessons after experiencing the suppression of freedom and free speech—among them the value of human life and respect for human rights.
“We have learned to value human life, uphold the dignity of each, and respect human rights. We have learned that true progress depends on justice and peace. We have learned to fight for the truth,” the cardinal added.
He pointed out, “We cannot learn these important lessons if we try to deny or forget the darkness of the past.”
A group of farmers whose members were jailed without warrant by the military during the Marcos regime said the cardinal’s statement was surprising and inspiring.
“We were reminded of the late Manila archbishop, Cardinal Jaime Sin. It’s good to know that the Catholic Church wants to remind the people of the human rights violations committed during martial law,” Erning Gabas, spokesperson for the Farmers’ Group Against Marcos, said.
Gabas said that the group had requested the cardinal speak in a similar fashion before the national election, but he remained silent.
The May 9 election saw Marcos Sr.’s son, Ferdinand “Bonbong” Marcos Jr., win by a landslide against former vice president, Leni Robredo.
Bishop Colin Bagaforo, head of Caritas Philippines, said that the nation cannot “move on” from the martial law era without justice and accountability, according to CBCP News.
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Reacting to a statement by two senators, Jinggoy Estrada and Robin Padilla, saying that the country must “move on”, Bishop Bagaforo said that no Filipino should forget the human rights abuses and the corruption during the dictatorship.
He said that Caritas joined everyone in the call “to never again let the powers that be control the narratives of the Filipino people.”
Bishop Bagaforo urged people to defend the truth, fight misinformation and disinformation by supporting legitimate sources of information and continue to demand “accountability and transparency from government officials, especially those who hold greater positions of power.”
