Millennials mark 44th year since ML declaration

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

Millennials dominated and led the commemoration of the 44th year since the declaration of martial law in the city yesterday.

The protesters, many of whom were born years after the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, took to the streets, chanting protest slogans like “Never again to martial law!”

The street demonstration here was organized by the group Karapatan, Bayan Muna, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students (LFS), and the political detainees’ group Selda.

Demonstrators called on President Duterte not to resort to martial law.

The ages of the protesters ranged from 13 years to 25 years. None of them existed when the then President Marcos declared martial law on Sept. 21, 1972.

Demonstrator Renz Ybañez, 18, of Baluarte, Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, said he opted not go the school so that he could take part in the mass action.

Ybañez, a member of the group Anak Bayan, is a 2nd year business administration student at the Tagoloan Community College.

Ybañez said that while he did not suffer during the martial law period, he was well aware of what happened because of the narratives of his grandparents and older friends.

“Nakuha sab nako ang  daotang estorya sa martial law gikan sa mga documentary mao nga mi-apil  ko karon sa panawagan nga ‘never again to martial law’ kay dili nako gusto nga ang da-otang kasinati-an sa mga batan-on sa una, mahitabo usab sa among panahon  karon,” Ybañez said.

Another 18-year old demonstrator, Demz Badilla who is also from Tagoloan, said she was aware of how many women suffered in the hands of abusive soldiers during martial law.

“Akong nadunggan nga ang mga batan-ong babayi sa una, gihimo lang sa mga sundalo nga morag mananap tungod sa ilang kaabusado, mao na nga dili ko mosugot nga mahitabo pa kadto pag-usab kanano nga mga batan-on  karon,” said Badilla.

Bayan Muna spokesman for northern Mindanao Wildon Barros said while he did not suffer torture during martial law, he remembered how soldiers, including members of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary, abused their authority.

“Ang akong na-experience niadtong panahona kana lang magsigi ug paboto sa ilang pusil ang mga sundalo. Bisag asa to sila magpaboto,” Barros said.

A martial law victim, 54-year old Felix Bollozos of Gingoog City, said he was tortured Maasin, Esperanza Agusan del Sur.

He said he was beaten up by militiamen, and hogtied him from 8 am to 6 pm.

He identified his alleged torturers as Boboy Daño and Pepe Lara.

“Ika kung gikulatala kay ila kong gipatug-an, kinsa kunoy akong nailhan nga mga commander sa mga rebilde,” Bollozos said.

Two years later, he said, an Army sergeant named Edgar Marao mauled him again on mere suspicion that he was supplying rebels rice.

Bollozos said Filipinos should never allow martial law or any form of dictatorship to happen again in the country.