Peaceful protests mark martial law anniversary

Peaceful rallies and forums marked the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law Thursday in Panay and Eastern Visayas.

In Iloilo City, groups including Bayan Panay and Akbayan joined an indignation rally outside the campus of University of the Philippines (UP Visayas) and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds.

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform had a half-day symposium on “Churches Addressing the Root Causes of Armed Conflict and Killings Towards Justice and Peace”.

The Dakila Iloilo Collective also hosted a gathering at Molo Plaza to raise awareness on human rights. The group focused on the symbolism of the deaths of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman.

Police forces in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo provinces were on full alert the whole day Thursday.

“We will see to it that rule of law and respect for humans rights will be observed during this National Day of Protest,” said Supt. Gilbert Gorero, spokesman for the Police Regional Office.

In Tacloban City, cause-oriented groups marked the anniversary of the declaration of martial law with activities at the compound of Redemptorist Parish Thursday.

Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) Eastern Visayas Chairman Professor Pascualito Ilagan and other victims of martial law trooped to the Redemptorist compound and unveiled the marker for the late Redemptorist priest Rudy Romano of Villareal, Samar, who was abducted by armed men in Cebu City and whose fate remains unknown to this day.

Other militant groups in Leyte joined in the activity.

Tacloban is the hometown of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, whose husband, President Ferdinand Marcos, declared the entire country under martial law in 192.

The observance of the anniversary in Eastern Visayas was generally peaceful, sources from the Philippine Army and law enforcement units told Manila Bulletin.