MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Human rights activists in the Philippines have rejected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s Sept. 10 announcement of the birthday of his late father, an ousted dictator, in their northern hometown a special holiday.
Marcos Jr., who took office in June after a landslide election victory, authorized the 105th birthday of his namesake father at Setp. 12. The dictator was toppled in 1986 in an army-backed pro-democracy movement.
“It is appropriate and appropriate to give the people of Ilocos Norte a full opportunity to celebrate and participate in this occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” said the presidential proclamation, which was published by Marcos Jr.’s executive secretary and posted on Facebook. .
Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, also authorized the late president’s birthday to be a holiday in Ilocos Norte. But activists have been particularly alarmed by the new president’s move, which they suspect is an attempt to whitewash the image of his father and the Marcos family.
Satur Ocampo, arrested in the 1970s on suspicion of being a communist insurgent and tortured under the Marcos dictatorship, criticized Marcos Jr. in an online news conference. ) glorified his father’s actions, “the victims of the dictatorship at the time didn’t even get justice, and despite our campaign, the looted wealth has never been returned, not even the slightest sign of an apology.”
“We’re not going to let them get away with it,” he said.
Gwendolyn Pimentel-Ghana, a former Human Rights Commission official, said Marcos’ holiday declaration was “another step in the revision of history.”
Her late father, an opposition politician, was imprisoned after Marcos put the Philippines under martial law in 1972.
On September 21, activists announced a series of protests at a news conference to mark the 50th anniversary of Marcos’ declaration of martial law.
Philippine historian Francis Gealogo said Marcos’ holiday declaration stands in stark contrast to steps other countries have taken to use historic sites associated with dictators as a warning of tyranny. He cited a stele outside Adolf Hitler’s birthplace in Austria that promotes democracy, denounces fascism and pays tribute to a large number of victims.
“What’s celebrating here?” Giarro asked. “It’s like spitting on history, the memory of those who have been persecuted by dictatorships.”
Marcos had no immediate comment, but his key officials said his May 9 election victory reflected the Filipino people’s trust and confidence in him despite charges against his father and his family, Marcos said. its “lie” ”
Critics say a well-funded social media campaign aimed at raising the profile of the Marcos family has contributed to the family’s shocking political comeback.
Marcos Sr., his family and cronies went into exile in the United States after he was ousted from power in the 1986 “people power” uprising.
He died in Hawaii in 1989 without admitting any wrongdoing amid allegations of looting and human rights atrocities. A Hawaii court later found him responsible for massive human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to more than 9,000 Filipinos who sued him for torture, imprisonment, extrajudicial executions and disappearances.
