By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—As the nation commemorated the September 21, 1972 Martial Law
declaration during the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, some
Ilocano activists mostly composed of farmers, fishermen, youth and human rights
advocates from various parts of the province convened a forum today inside the
Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church in this city.
During the time of martial law, even the residents of Ilocos Norte were not
spared from the terror that it brought.
For 54-year old Antonino Pugyao of Brgy. Cacafean in Marcos, Ilocos Norte
and incumbent president of the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation
(STOP-Exploitation) in Ilocos Norte, he said his dark memories about human
rights abuses during the time of martial law still lingers in his mind.
“We were forced to evacuate our land, the military burned our house, my
cousin was killed and some of my barrio mates went missing during the time of
Martial Law,” Mr. Pugyao narrated in Ilokano language.
“Years had passed but we can never forget the military abuses during that
time,” he added.
Organized by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Ilocos), the forum meant
to commemorate the bad effects of Martial Law and to enjoin all concerned
groups and individuals not to allow the declaration of Martial Law ever again
in the Philippines.
Known as a progressive church, the IFI hosted the said event attended by
more than 200 individuals.
While the ecumenical mass and forum are being conducted at the IFI Church
just beside the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, members of the Philippine
National Police were alerted to a possible rally which prompted them to
preposition police in combat uniforms to ensure peace and order. A fire truck
was also placed near the Aurora Park where a crowd usually gather during
rallies.
Meanwhile, workers of the Ilocos Norte government also placed loud speakers
at the Capitol grounds as they played some of the province’s tourism campaign
jingles and others.
Responding to an earlier call of Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa
‘Imee” R. Marcos to “move on” from the dark days of Martial Law, Mr. Pugyao
quipped, “papaano ka mag-move on kung ang hustisya ay hindi mo pa nakakamit?”
According to the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation
(STOP-Exploitation), many farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona,
Marcos and Piddig suffered from illegal arrest and torture perpetrated by the
military from 1984 until the end of Marcos’ regime.
Also, in 1984, three members of an indigenous community in Pallas Valley,
Vintar and eight farmers in Bangui were salvaged.
Aside from these, indigenous communities such as the Yapayao and Isneg were
forced to evacuate from their ancestral domain.
The victims in these cases have not yet received any compensation until
now.
Comments
Post a Comment