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HAPPENING NOW: An Expert Panel on The Marcos Regime and Martial Law, a part of ACFJ's #BalikKaSaysayAn digital conference. | via @briellemoi
Paolo Villar from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines gives the opening remarks and introduces the speakers: Len Olea, Managing Editor of Bulatlat and Roselle Tugade, a lawyer with the Commission on Human Rights. | via @briellemoi
Olea gives a brief background on how Marcos suppressed writers and journalists through censorship as soon as he declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. | via @briellemoi
She goes on to explain the "Mosquito Press", an alternative group of publications that lived through the Marcos dictatorship, including student publications. The mosquito press published stories that were critical of the regime. | via @briellemoi
Olea talks about some of the lies peddled by Marcos including his alleged military awards and decorations, and that Martial Law was good for the economy. (1/2) | via @briellemoi
She emphasizes how Marcos loyalists still believe these lies that have been debunked by experts and journalists. (2/2) | via @briellemoi
She also explains how underground publications helped boost the morale of activism in people during Martial Law and that the Mosquito Press played a crucial role in the citizenry that lead to the downfall of Marcos. | via @briellemoi
Olea: Now in the present [under Duterte], writers writing about the drug war and being critical of the government is considered an act of communism. | via @briellemoi
Atty. Tugade now opens her discussion about the Marcosian Legacy and the Law. | via @briellemoi
She explains the concentration of lawmaking power, in which Marcos held power over the law and creating the law. A lot of the laws Marcos passed were Presidential decrees, which lacked public discussion and transparency. | via @briellemoi
Tugade now discusses the crafting of the Constitution and how it helped the Philippines transition from an authoritarian rule to a more democratic one. | via @briellemoi
he also mentions the 3 Institutions that helped ensure reform: The PH Commission on Good Government, The Commission on Human Rights, and the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission | via @briellemoi
Tugade: Of course, the law is still a very limited instrument. There are still problems in bringing accountability to the effects of the Marcos regime. | via @briellemoi
Tugade asks how the proposed 'Marcos Day' is lawful, considering all the commissions established to help reverse the effects of Martial Law. She mentions that the law is not enough to combat historical lies and revisionism. | via @briellemoi
The question and answer portion is now opened. | via @briellemoi
Q: Ang mandato at hamon po sa aming mga guro ay magturo ng walang bias, ano-ano po ang mga magandang nagawa ni Pangulong Marcos sa kanyang panahon? | via @briellemoi
Villar: Ang kasaysayan ay ginagalaw o napapausad ng iilang tao. Ang kanyang [Marcos] mga magandang nagawa ba ay may saysay sa lipunan? | via @briellemoi
Q: Meron ba sa law o sa Constitution na nagpaparusa sa mga suportado pa rin kay Marcos?
Tugade explains how there no such law in country as of present, comparing it to how countries like Germany have laws penalizing people for supporting Hitler. | via @briellemoi
Tugade explains how there no such law in country as of present, comparing it to how countries like Germany have laws penalizing people for supporting Hitler. | via @briellemoi
She says that it is something that should be up for discussion, as witnesses should not be the only ones upholding the truth of what happened during the Marcos regime. | via @briellemoi
Olea also answers the question, saying that even though the victims of Martial Law won in the Hawaii court suit, Imelda Marcos and the other Marcos cronies are still not held accountable at present. | via @briellemoi
Olea: Makikita na maraming hindi talaga alam ang nangyari noon. Kaya kailangan magpatuloy yung paglalahad ng katotohanan para sa kasalukyang henerasyon. | via @briellemoi
Q: What can students like me do so that Martial Law will not happen again?
Villar answers that students should do their own reading and research in order to make themselves aware of what happened. | via @briellemoi
Villar answers that students should do their own reading and research in order to make themselves aware of what happened. | via @briellemoi
He says that students should be "equipped" and read documents and information critically because just they are printed and written out does not mean they already represent the truth. | via @briellemoi
Q: With the weaponization of law, how can the government maintain cheques and balances?
Tugade answers that the government is already weaponizing the law, especially with the repression of media and press freedom. | via @briellemoi
Tugade answers that the government is already weaponizing the law, especially with the repression of media and press freedom. | via @briellemoi
Tugade: Citizens should be vigilant as well. Lawyers only play a supporting role in guarding the law and how it is being used. | via @briellemoi
