Imee on martial law subject: Get our side

Senator Imee Marcos welcomed Wednesday the teaching of martial law at the University of the Philippines, but said the side of the family of the former strongman Ferdinand Marcos should also be included.

“Karapatan naman ng UP ‘yan, may academic freedom naman talaga. Maganda rin na pinag-aaralan. At least sana bigyan din kami ng pagkakataon na sabihin kung ano ang pagkaalam namin sa nangyari,” the senator told reporters when sought for comment.

“Importante dun na may view points ng bawat isa at maririnig ang bawat isa. Problema kasi ang academic freedom, freedom lang sa isang pangkat, walang freedom sa iba,” she added.

She believed her family is partly to blame for the unfavorable view on martial law because they kept mum on the issue.

“Ako naman tinitiis ko rin. ‘Yung iba makinig naman sana. Actually sa tingin ko, kasalanan din ng pamilya namin kasi naging tameme rin kami, tinamad na kami magsalita, hindi namin binabahagi ang alam namin. Di na kami nagkikwento kasi parang nakakapagod na,” she said.

Marcos said silence was not a good attitude to take as it is important to share what they know. 

“What we have is personal knowledge, the experience, and the truth that we own and share it to the rest,” she said.

She expressed hope UP will include all perspective in discussing martial law.

“Hopefully hayaan nila magsalita ang lahat pero sabi ko nga kulang kami dyan, hindi kami nagsulat, hindi kami nagpainterview, bitin talaga sa pagtatanggol sa sarili,” she said.

The proposed subject Philippine Studies (PS) 21 may be introduced  as part of the curriculum of the UP next year and it will focus on the literature and critical works produced within the decade that martial law was in effect. —LDF, GMA News