‘Democracy, human rights won in 1986 People Power threatened anew’

The democracy and human rights that Filipinos fought to get back from the Marcos regime three decades ago through a bloodless uprising are once again being threatened, activists said on Saturday.

During the 31st anniversary of the peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution, former activists once again hit the streets to protest the injustices happening in the country under the Duterte administration.

Niva Gonzales, spokesman of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, said that they were once again fighting for democracy and human rights in the Philippines, which they first did 31 years ago.

"Nakamit natin noong 1986 'yung democracy at human rights... mukhang gusto ulit agawin. So bale wala. Kaya kailangan ituloy ang laban," she told GMA News Online.

Gonzales, 60, had fought against the abuses committed during the Martial Law regime, a nine-year period that saw thousands of people disappearing and getting killed.

Thirty-one years later, she was reunited with her fellow activists at the People Power Monument in Quezon City where a grand rally was held in celebration of the 1986 victory.

She and her friends wore black shirts reading "Temperamental Brats" and ribbons that say "Mandaraya" (cheater) and "Para sa hustisya" (For justice).

She said she was glad the youth finally realized the atrocities during the Martial Law and decided to fight on their side, noting the number of young individuals who showed up for the program.

The crowd at the People Power Monument #EDSA31 pic.twitter.com/MeyU322NQu

— Jessica Bartolome (@jacbartolome) February 25, 2017

"Bago kasi ng eleksyon, maraming nagsasabi na maganda noong Martial Law," she said.

"Nung libing ni Marcos, doon namulat ang mata nila," she added.

In the 31 years that have passed since the EDSA Revolution and despite her age, Gonzales said she never stopped fighting for what they stood up for three decades ago.

"Hindi naman kami tumigil eh. Most of us went to  work at development organizations. Ako sa NGO [non-government organization] ako," Gonzales said.

"[Dapat] i-preserve ang democracy na napanalunan 31 years ago noong 1986, and i-respeto ang human rights," she added. — MDM, GMA News