Various sectors led by national-democratic organizations commemorated the 52nd anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr’s imposition of martial law with protests in different parts of the country.

“We commemorate this year the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr’s declaration of martial law along with outrage at the continuing violations of human rights, civil rights and international humanitarian law under his son Ferdinand Marcos Jr,” groups and other progressive organizations and individuals said in a joint statement. Apart fromm reviving his father’s policies, Marcos Jr perpetuates blatant violations of human rights, they said.

“Atrocities continue, complicit with the political and economic elites supported by the US government.” They said that just like during the martial law era, fascist machineries like the NTF-Elcac, laws like Anti Terrorism and the brutal military and police are repressing the people’s desire for democracy, social justice, human rights and peace.

They call on the people to resist oppression and demand an end to state tyranny and terrorism. First, they said, Marcos Jr should be held accountable for pushing the legacy of his dictator father, who professed to be pro-human rights while maintaining blood-stained agencies like the NTF-Elcac and refusing to help prosecute former president Rodrigo Duterte through the International Criminal Court.

In Metro Manila, groups led by Bayan marched from España to Mendiola with the slogan “Fight terrorism.” There was tension between the rallyists and the police when the protest was blocked before reaching Mendiola. Activists from Southern Tagalog attended.

In Laguna, students at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos launched a “snake rally”.

In Bicol, groups under Bayan-Bicol launched a protest-caravan from Busay, Daraga to the Redemptorist church in Legazpi City where they offered a mass which was followed by a cultural night. More than 100 from Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon participated in the activity.

In Baguio, the rallyists marched on Session Road to Burnham Park where they held a program. Martial law victims like Jennifer Cariño spoke in the program.

In Iloilo City, a forum was held at Hoffbauer Hall, St. Clement’s Compound in La Paz district before the participants marched to the capitol of Iloilo. There was also a march in Kalibo, Aklan.

In Cebu, national-democratic groups gathered at Fuente Osmeña then marched to Metro Colon. Along with martial law commemoration, they paid tribute to the martyrs and heroes of the people who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the dictatorship and state terrorism. Before this, there was a photo exhibit at the University of the Philippines-Cebu and a Karapatan-Cebu and Stop the Attacks Movement for Peace (STAMP-Cebu) spearheaded a cultural night.

In Bacolod City, organizations under Bayan-Negros marched to simultaneously commemorate the Escalante Massacre and the 52nd anniversary of the imposition of martial law. The march started at Rizal Park around 2 pm and ended at Halandumon Tower on Gatuslao-Gonzaga St. In Escalante City, a mass was offered at Mt. Carmel Church.

In Tacloban, students held a cultural night on September 20 at the University of the Philippines-Tacloban in remembrance of the violence and abuse suffered by the Filipino people under martial law.

In Davao City, the protest was held at Freedom Park around 2 p.m. In the evening, activists held a candle lighting activity at the Our Lady of the Assumption Statue, near the Ateneo de Davao, to commemorate the victims of martial law.