Nine magistrates of the Supreme Court chose to take a myopic and narrow view of justice and allowed the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB). The tyrant and despot rejoices in his glass enclosed tomb. His family and minions are ecstatic with the “magnanimity of the rule of law”.
TFDP Statement on the Supreme Court Decision on the Burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
Our Hope Lies With Our People:
Truth Will Prevail! Justice Will Flow!
Justice was bludgeoned today. Nine magistrates of the Supreme Court chose to take a myopic and narrow view of justice and allowed the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB). The tyrant and despot rejoices in his glass enclosed tomb. His family and minions are ecstatic with the “magnanimity of the rule of law”.
But sometimes, the law does not equate with justice. To recall, the law was used to enslave a nation and its people for 14 long years. The law was used to plunder the coffers of our nation. The law was used to justify the gross human rights violations committed against our people. More than 100,000 direct victims have been scarred by martial law.
But even then, Ka Pepe Diokno, Ka Tani Tañada, Jovito Salonga, Rene Saguisag, and many others saw the majesty and grandeur of law, as well as its pitfalls and limitations. They went within, around, and beyond the law to advocate for justice.
It is time to do so once more.
Truth was mangled today. The truth that Marcos was a human rights violator. The truth that Marcos was a plunderer. The truth that Marcos is no hero. The truth that darkness fell when martial law was declared, and for 14 years, our people were violated, its resources pillaged by a few, and impunity was at its peak. The truth that democracy was dead from 1972 to 1986 and a fascist dictatorship held reign.
The Supreme Court chose to wash its hands of the raging controversy. It simply said there are no legal impediments to burying Marcos at the LNMB just as its predecessors did in declaring martial law legal.
Indeed, the decision ultimately now rests with the butcher now sitting in power. With him, there is no hope.
Our redemption, our hope lies with the people. It is their hearts and minds that we must win over. Our collective memory of those harrowing times must not be lost. It must be shared, again and again and again. Memory shall be our sword and our shield against the revision of history and the return of tyranny.
Upon the graves of our martyrs and heroes, by the sacrifices of those who were killed, tortured, and disappeared, we swear again – Truth will prevail. Justice will flow.
November 8, 2016
Source : www.tfdp.net
