“Let us not forget that 53 years ago on September 21, 1972, the dark shadows of totalitarianism swallowed this whole nation. That was ‘the day that freedom died,’ where the Filipinos were deprived of their civil and political rights,” GAWA Secretary general Wennie Sancho said in a press release on the commemoration of Martial Law
Some political and labor activists suffered cruel and unjust punishment from the hands of the “verdugos.” God forbid! Let us not allow history to repeat itself, he said.
Shall we allow another dictator who would create a climate of fear? The ghosts of our heroes and martyrs I am sure, would not take it kindly that our beloved country to which they devoted and gave their lives, shall be trampled upon by tyrants because whatever freedom we have inherited from our forebears, must be protected at all cost if we are to possess it, he added.
Sancho believes that we have the right to refuse allegiance to a government when it becomes destructive of its ends or when there are apparent manifestations of dictatorship.
“We have the inherent right to dissent against injustice and oppression. We must never submit to a system governed by arrogance and nepotism. Let us protest and resist the violation of our rights,” the statement said.
“Let us honor the thousands of men and women who had been imprisoned during the Martial law, 52 years ago. Most of them were subjected to all forms of torture, others were killed. They had voluntarily offered their lives, without counting the cost, so that we might regain our freedom. They are the heroes and martyrs of martial law. There is nothing we can do to add to their heroism and martyrdom. But there is so much we can do to defend and possess our restored freedom of this nation for they gave their all. Let us not forget the day freedom died on Sept. 21,” Sancho added in his statement.*
