TO MARK the 44th anniversary of the Martial Law Declaration, a round of discussions on Martial Law was organized by the Union of Students for the Advancement of Democracy, in partnership with the Ateneo Assembly, on September 23.
The event was held in order to raise awareness of the youth on the martial law period and its violation of human rights during the Marcos dictatorship.
The discussion was headed by keynote speaker Dr. Aurora Corazon, from the Parong Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB). Corazon also rendered medical services to victims of human rights violations during Martial Law.
In her discussion, Parong highlighted three principal issues during the Marcos dictatorship: human rights violations, plunder of wealth, and destruction of democratic principles.
Parong said that the HRVCB is investigating a total of 75,230 cases of human rights violations.
She added that this figure did not include the cases of detention, disappearances, and murder, which if included, would amount to a figure of 110,000 cases.
Economic and democratic ruin
Moreover, she said that it was true that the Philippines was ranked number 2 in economic wealth among Asian countries at a certain point during Martial Law. However, she added that prior to Martial Law, “[the Philippines was] number 1.”
She added that this might have been the result of the plunder of economic wealth in billions of dollars that have yet to be returned to the government.
In addition, she said that there was a usurpation of the legislative and judicial powers by former President Ferdinand Marcos during Martial Law.
In evidence, she shared her experience of being detained and questioning the Supreme Court with regard to the legal validity of the Presidential Commitment Order (PCO). The PCO allowed for the indefinite suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
Discriminatory tendencies
Parong also emphasized the need to “know your rights.” She emphasized that, though the state has an obligation to “respect, protect, and fulfill human rights”, it is not only the state that holds this duty.
“The person also has the responsibility to other persons in relation to the human rights of that person,” she said. According to Parong, everyone must be a “duty holder” of human rights.
Parong said that the issue of human rights violations remains “relevant” now, with the extrajudicial killings in the current administration’s war against drugs.
“There is discrimination in the way [the war against drugs] is being handled,” she said.
She added that government officials, members of the judiciary, congressmen, and police officials allegedly complicit in drug trade are given the right to surrender, whereas ordinary individuals are murdered for the same reason without due process.
She said that this is a violation of human rights.
“One of the principles of human rights is…patas ang lahat (everyone is on the same level,” she added.
