Martial law icons’ descendants running for Senate

TWO scions of martial law icons are running for senat or s.

For mer deputy speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III and De La Salle University College of Law dean Jose Manuel Diokno filed their certificates of candidacy for senator under the Liberal Party (LP) on Tuesday, October 16.

Tañada’s father, Lorenzo, and Diokno’s father, Jose, were among the founders of the LP and fought the martial law policy of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Lorenzo and Jose were both former senator s.

Tañada and Diokno said they do not agree with Marcos’s daughter, Imee, that the people are ready to move on from the past.

“We all know the truth from those times. The facts are there and, of course, there’s a lot of fake news going around but it is fully documented what has happened,” said Diokno.

“This is an issue on martial law and its victims. And there are a lot, not just the Aquinos. This is not a simple case of Aquino versus Marcos. It can even be said that it is the people against Marcos,” said Tañada.

Diokno, one of the founders of the Free Legal Assistance Group, said that he plans to push changes in the country’s judicial system.

“Many of our countrymen no longer believe in justice. If we cannot fix the justice system, there will be no progress,” he said.

Tañada, for his part, said he aims to reintroduce to the new generation the “Tañada brand of politics.”

“It is principled politics that listen to the people, not afraid to fight alone for his stand even if it goes against the president, partymate or not, as long as it is right,” he said. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)