Not on our watch

On the day the Philippines remembered — with sadness and resolve that it will never happen again — the Marcos declaration of Martial Law 42 years ago, Senator Chiz Escudero, for some bizarre or unfathomable reason, declares it is time to bury the Great Dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Was he trying to seek the sympathy of the Marcos followers? Or was he trying to be sarcastic when he chose the date to announce his proposal? Or was he being insensitive to those who suffered injustices during the martial law years? Or was he — like so many other former martial law administrators — simply trying to rewrite Philippine history?

PNoy has again restated that it would be an injustice to the all those who suffered during the Marcos martial law dictatorship to allow him to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani or the “Cemetery of Heroes.”

We are told that this is a divisive issue. But what and who does it divide? On one side there are those who believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. On the other side there are those who believe in dictatorship, cronyism and placing family interests over personal interests. Allowing this burial will not reconcile these two opposing views.

There are those who believe that it is time for forgiveness. But if I remember my religious lessons, I was taught that before a sinner can be forgiven he or she must first confess his or her sins and must do penance as atonement for the sins committed.

I have never heard any of the Marcos family or fanatical followers confess their sins nor ask for forgiveness. I have never heard them seek atonement. Instead I see attempts to rewrite our history by exploiting media and using their celebrity status in certain circles. Media people seem to forget that among the main victims of martial law were media personalities like Chino Roces. Freedom of speech and a free press were among the first casualties on the day martial law was declared by Marcos and the proclamation read by Kit Tatad on the one television station then allowed to operate.

Then there are certain sectors that believe that as a former president, Marcos should be allowed to be buried in Ilocos Norte with full military honors. There is an interesting story told by former President Fidel Ramos and his DILG Secretary Raffy Alunan. This is a story that has been written about by Raissa Robles in the past. But it is worth retelling.

On the eve of his departure as outgoing president, Fidel Ramos said that he had authorized the return of the remains of Marcos under certain conditions. The first was that the body would not stop over in Manila but be flown directly to Ilocos Norte. This was fulfilled and there was no wake in Metro Manila.

The second condition was that during the burial in Ilocos, Marcos would be given military honors befitting the rank of major which was what Marcos claimed being promoted to during World War II. This was the reason there was no 21-gun salute, since the agreement was the ceremonies would only be for a middle level officer. The acceptance of this second condition also means that, in effect, the Marcoses agreed that there would be no state honors.

The last condition was that there would be a quick burial. Ramos later disclosed that the Marcos family broke this promise and have refused to bury Marcos up to now. This is said to be also the reason why there has been no complete military honors since there has been no burial.

Every time there is another attempt to resurrect the Marcos name and cloak it under the guise of being a hero rather than the author of a brutal dictatorship, I go back to quoting a speech of that true icon of democracy – Corazon Aquino – when she spoke in a rally on August 20, 1999, seven years after her presidency. The date was also the eve of the 16th anniversary of the martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino. Here again — one more time — are excerpts from her speech entitled “This Country Will Always Be Free”:

“Our children must see that stealing does not cease to be wrong because the loot is successfully hidden. Our children must see that the mastermind is not innocent because his hired guns are afraid to finger him. Our children must see that might is not right but that given time and determination, right is irresistible.

We will not surrender the guarantees of freedom and good government for which we paid so dearly.

We will not allow those who plundered our country to return to power no matter who they think their best friend is.

We will not so easily allow the dismantling of what took the democratic resistance many years to recover under martial law, and succeeding years after EDSA to rebuild.

This is a fight against a 14-year dictatorship and a dark legacy that refuses to die.

Let me say it now; there will never, never be a Marcos restoration, not by hook or by crook. This country will always be the country of the People Power Revolution.”

Ferdinand Marcos was not, and is not, a hero. To allow him to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani is to send a message to the youth and to future generations of Filipinos that dictatorship, violation of human rights, and abolition of freedom is justifiable. It sends a message that corruption can be forgiven even if it results in making our country the “sick man of Asia.”

The Filipino people know the meaning of true heroism. We will never honor one of history’s worst dictators as a hero.

Just as it was vigilantly declared by that vital book written by a few of the countless brave souls who sacrificed much for our country in rekindling the freedoms we enjoy to this day:  NOT ON OUR WATCH.

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Write Away! Weekends on Sept. 27 with Candy Gourlay

Where The Write Things Are is still accepting participants for its Write Away! Weekends session with acclaimed writer Candy Gourley, on Sept. 27, 2014 from 9:30 am-1:30 pm at the Canadian American School, 6th floor The City Club, Alphaland. For more details, kindly call/text 0917-6240196, email [email protected], or log on to www.write-things.com.

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