Lacson: Philippines must condemn repression in Myanmar because of our Martial Law experience

It is the Philippines’ obligation to call for an end to the repression in Myanmar because of its own experience under Martial Law, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Sunday.

At the Commission on Elections' second PiliPinas presidential debate, Lacson and the other candidates were asked about the situation in Myanmar, which has been under military rule since the junta launched a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021.

Lacson invoked Ferdinand Marcos' Martial Law regime, which formally lasted from 1972 to 1981, though Marcos' authoritarian rule prevailed until he was ousted in 1986. Thousands of Filipinos were imprisoned, kidnapped, tortured, and killed during this period.

"Ang Pilipinas po ay isang bansa na sumailalim din sa napakahabang panahon ng represyon under Martial Law, at ngayon ang Myanmar, they are in a similar situation. So dapat ang Pilipinas, bilang kabahagi ng United Nations, ng community of nations na kasama sa UN Declaration of Human Rights ay—kung hindi man makapang-una—ay sumali o mag-join sa deklarasyon ng ASEAN countries para manawagan sa ibang bansa at sa Myanmar na rin upang tigilan ang represyon sa kanilang mga citizens.

"Obligasyon ho natin 'yan, hindi dahil tayo ay dumaan din sa ganyang panahon, kung hindi signatory tayo doon sa United Nations at kabilang tayo sa mga sumali doon sa UN Declaration of Human Rights," Lacson said.

(The Philippines also underwent a long period of repression under Martial Law, amd now Myanmar is in a similar position. So the Philippines, as part of the United Nations and the community of nations signatory to the [Universal] Declaration of Human Rights, must join the ASEAN's declaration calling for Myanmar and other nations to end repression of their own citizens. It's our obligation not just because we went through something similar, but because we are signatory to the UN and we joined the [Universal] Declaration of Human Rights.)

"Bilang pangulo, kung walang mangunguna, dapat manguna tayo sa ASEAN countries para kundinahin ang mga represyon na nangyayari sa bansang Myanmar," he added.

(As president, if no one is going to lead, then we must lead the ASEAN countries in condemning the repression happening in Myanmar.)

'Not a good reputation'

Aksyon Demokratiko bet and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno expressed agreement with Lacson.

“That is the right way. That is the best way for United Nations signatories of that organization na doon tayo mag-demand. Tama po si Senator Lacson,” Moreno said.

“Kailangan i-demand natin sa kasamahan nating bansa, kasapi din ng organisasyong ito ‘yung kanilang obligasyon. Hindi lang tayo ang laging tumutupad sa obligasyon. They must come and help us also,” he added.

(We must demand of our fellow nations who are part of the UN that we not be the only one always fulfilling our obligations.)

Senator Manny Pacquiao, however, said that the Philippines is having a hard time raising its position regarding issues on human rights in ASEAN countries, saying that the country “does not have a good reputation.”

“Mahirap tayo magbigay tayo ng position tapos ang ating bansa hindi katangi-tangi, hindi maganda yung reputasyon natin so ang pangit ng imahe natin, maraming corruption hindi maganda ang nangyayari kaya wala tayong boses na magposition o mag-suggest ng anomang mga bagay dahil ang ating bansa ay nahihirapan eh,” he said.

(It is difficult for us to give a position because our country is not unique. Our reputation is not good so our image is not that good, there is a lot of corruption and there is no good happening in our country. So we do not have a voice to position or suggest any things because our country is also having difficulties.)

'Our government must have credibility'

Labor leader Leody De Guzman said that the Philippines must show that it respects human rights so it could demand the same of other nations.

"Dapat ipaalala sa ASEAN na mayroong matibay na kasunduan ng pagrespeto sa karapatang-pantao dito sa ASEAN na pinagtibay. Pero dapat unahin natin ang ating gobyerno, 'yung gobyerno mismo dapat may pagrespeto sa ating mamamayan," De Guzman said.

(ASEAN must be reminded that there is a strong agreement that human rights in the region must be respected. But we must start with our own government fist. Our government must itself respect its own people.)

"'Yung bansa natin [dapat] magkaroon ng isang totoong gobyerno na magpapatupad at mangangalaga sa karapatang-pantao, nang sa gayon magkaroon siya ng kredibilidad na manawagan sa ibang bansa, sa ASEAN na tutulan o itigil 'yung panunupil sa mamamayan," he added.

(Our own country must have a government that protects human rights, so that it will have credibility in calling out other countries and ASEAN to stop repression.)

Businessman Faisal Mangondato, for his part, said that national interest must be prioritized and protected against violations of human rights.

"Ayan po ang aking pananaw. 'Yung political will ng ating gobyerno ay protektahan muna ang kanilang mga tao dito sa Pilipinas bago po yung pagbigay galang sa mga ibang nasyon," Mangondato said.

(My view is that the government's political will must be focused on protecting its people here in the Philippines before turning to other countries.)

"Our nation's policy must have a united stand and internal differences must be resolved. Para hindi po tayo pinaglalaruan ng mga dayuhan. Kailangan matatag po ang ating paninindigan na tayo ay isang nasyon na hindi pwede pasukan ng sino man nasyon," he added.

(So that foreign countries won't toy with us. We must be strong in our stand that we are one nation that cannot be invaded by any other nation.)

However, Mangondato said the Philippines must befriend other countries to be on good terms with them.

"Gayunpaman, tayo ay magbibigay ng maganda sa kanila sa pamamaraan ng na 'yung kultura [nila] nang sa ganoon ay magkaroon tayo ng magandang pag-uunawaan dito sa ating gobyerno," he said. — with Hana Bordey, Joahna Lei Casilao, Richa Noriega, Mel Matthew Doctor, and Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News