Rival PH unis unite to say ‘never again’ to martial law 

Photo: University Facebook pages.
Photo: University Facebook pages.

The Philippines’ Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University may be rivals in the academic and sporting arenas but when it comes to standing up for the country, they’re on the same team.

In lieu of the anniversary of the declaration of martial law that is being observed nationwide today, the two institutions released a joint statement, underscoring the importance of fighting for freedom and democracy.

“Let us not allow those who seek to suppress our rights and freedom to hold sway over our future as a nation,” it reads. The document was signed by Ateneo President Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ and La Salle President Br. Raymundo B. Suplido, FSC.

On Sept. 21, 1972, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081, putting the entire Philippines under military rule. This, in effect, started Marcos’ 14-year dictatorship that led to thousands of deaths and human rights violations.

In the statement, the universities called this proclamation a “weapon to perpetuate himself (Marcos) in power.”

“It allowed Marcos to extend his presidency, seize the business, jail critics, and kill those who opposed the regime … and so we say today, with even more fervor, never again!” the statement reads.

The universities also spoke out against those who try to underplay the events that happened during the dark martial law years.

“To those who naively say it is time to move on, we say there can be no moving on without admittance, contrition, and reparation.”

This, perhaps, is aimed at President Marcos’ daughter Imee Marcos, who last month said that people criticizing their family should “move on.”

Up to this day, the Marcos family still has not owned up to the corruption and human rights violations that happened when the country was under their patriarch’s rule.

And the family remains influential in politics too. Imee is currently the governor of Ilocos Norte; her brother Bongbong Marcos was a Senator and ran for Vice President in 2016; and their mother, the infamous First Lady Imelda Marcos is a congressperson, also for Ilocos Norte.

The universities’ statement also took a jab at the current administration, which has been criticized for its deadly drug war and for its warm relationship with the Marcoses.

“In these present times, when our hard-fought freedom, love of democracy, and inalienable human rights, are being challenged — even by those mandated to protect them — we must bear in mind and take to heart the devastating events of that dark period in our history.”

At the end of the statement, the universities called on to their respective communities to be “critical of assessing the truth” about what really happened during the Marcos dictatorship.

“Do not be deceived by the false claims of those who want to revise our history.”

On Wednesday, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino called on to the Education Department to remove books being used in public schools that “whitewash” the martial law years. One book focused on the supposed merits of Marcos’ dictatorship, while another left those years out completely.

This is not the first time for Ateneo and La Salle to come together. In 2009, the universities dropped their school colors during a basketball game as a sign of unity in observing the death of President Corazon Aquino.

Basketball games between Ateneo and La Salle are much-awaited televised events that pack arenas to the rafters.

Aquino took over the presidency after the Marcos was overthrown by the 1986 People Power Revolution.



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