Never again to martial law!
September 21, 2023
Today marks the 51st anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines on Sep. 21, 1972. While the Marcos family upholds the lie that the Martial Law era was a “golden age”, the reality is that this period was one of violent suppression of people’s democratic rights and intensified government corruption that set the stage for the plundering of the country by imperialists and Marcos himself. In the 14 years of Martial Law, it is estimated that there were 3,200 extrajudicial killings, 34,000 victims of torture, and 70,000 victims of imprisonment, along with $10 billion of public funds stolen from the Filipino people by the Marcos family and his cronies.
Anakbayan-USA commemorates the history and legacy of people’s resistance against the brutal years of fascism under Marcos Sr. and its continuation under his son, Marcos Jr. From the militancy of Kabataan Makabayan during the First Quarter Storm to the ousting of Marcos Sr. in the People Power Revolution of 1986, the youth and students have been integral in the fight against the Marcos dictatorship. Today and everyday we remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us and call on the Filipino youth and students to carry on their historic role to continue and advance the struggle towards true democracy and genuine liberation in the Philippines.
Marcos Jr. has made it clear that he is no different from his father. Though there is no explicit declaration of martial law, his enforcement of the Anti-Terror Law has led to escalated militarization and bombings in the countryside, enforced disappearances, and criminalization of peasants, indigenous leaders, activists and human rights defenders. While the Philippine economy is at its worst, Marcos Jr.’s proposed 2024 budget increases the funding for military, police, and the NTF-ELCAC, prioritizing counterinsurgency tactics and political repression over addressing the widespread joblessness and poverty burdening the Filipino people.
Rather than push for national industrialization that would improve the livelihood in the country and strengthen the national economy towards self-reliance, the regime plans to expand the labor export of its people as a false solution to the enduring economic crisis. Over 6,000 Filipinos leave the country every day in pursuit of work abroad to provide for their families, but are met with no protection or concern for their welfare from the Philippine government. In fact, the budget allocated for services for over 12 million migrants abroad is less than Marcos Jr.’s travel budget, which he uses to wine and dine with the wealthy elite to further sell out the country’s resources and people.
While neglect of the people and growing fascism persists under the US-Marcos II regime, it has only fueled the fire of the growing mass movement in the Philippines and abroad. As Filipino youth and students in the belly of the beast, we must unite with the oppressed masses in their struggle for national democracy and continue the fight for a free, democratic, and prosperous Philippines that Filipinos deserve! Join us this November to confront Marcos Jr. at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leadership Summit in San Francisco and uplift the people’s demands for change!
