NAN
Thousands of people took to the streets in the Philippines on Friday to denounce the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, and to mark 46 years since late strongman Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under martial law.
The demonstrators included survivors of torture, illegal detention and other abuses under Marcos, who declared martial rule throughout the country on Sept. 21, 1972.
Duterte placed the southern region of Mindanao under martial law in 2017 after Islamic State-allied militants attacked Marawi City.
He also launched a deadly crackdown against illegal drugs, which left more than 4,000 killed, according to police statistics.
READ ALSO We’re winning cargoes from neighbouring countries – FG
“We were there in the darkest days. We struggled and survived.
“At the sunset of our lives, we will not bow down to another rising tyranny and dictatorship,” said Trinidad Herrera Repuno, who was arrested, detained and tortured during Marcos’ reign.
“The Filipino people have already witnessed how we toppled a tyrant.
“There is no doubt that we can do it again!”, she added.
The demonstrators also condemned attempts by former aides of Marcos’ to re-write history by insisting that martial law was good for the country and no one was killed or arrested for simply opposing the former president.
Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a people power revolt in February 1986 and forced to flee to Hawaii in self-imposed exile with his family.
He died three years later, and his family was eventually able to return to the country and in politics.