On 47th martial law anniversary, VP Robredo tells Filipinos: Fight revisionism

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday, September 21, reminded Filipinos to never forget the dark days of the Marcos regime and fight revisionism as the country marks the 47th anniversary of martial law.

Martial law remains a sensitive issue in the Philippines after it was used by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s to perpetuate himself to power.

In a statement, Robredo, in an apparent swipe to the Marcoses, said the Philippines is facing a new challenge as the people who unleashed a human rights calamity and plundered state coffers more than four decades ago return to power.

“Pinipilit nilang baluktotin ang katotohanan nang walang kahit anong bahid ng hiya at pagsisisi, para sa pansarili nilang kapakanan (They are trying to twist the truth without shame and remorse, for their own sake),” Robredo said.

“Ang labang ito ay laban sa pagkalimot, pananahimik, at pagkikibit-balikat (This fight is a fight against amnesia, silence and indifference),” she added.

The Marcos patriarch, whose presidency was tainted by human rights abuses, extravagance and massive corruption, was ousted in the 1986 "People Power" revolution.

Despite the death of the strongman while in exile in Hawaii in 1989, his disgraced family has been making a steady political comeback, with his only son and namesake eyeing a return to Malacañang as Philippine president and her daughter winning a Senate seat this year.