Manila archbishop on 50th year of Martial Law: ‘Huwag na tayong bumalik sa dilim’

“Nakita na natin ang liwanag. Huwag na tayong bumalik sa dilim.”

This was the remark of Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula as he urged Filipinos not to forget the lessons from the Martial Law period in commemorating its 50th year.

Advincula said the "dark period" in the country's history taught lessons about upholding dignity and respect to human rights, fighting for truth and justice, recognizing the importance of democracy, and having a deep faith with God.

“Ngunit ang mga mahahalagang aral na ito ay hindi natin matututunan kung pilit nating itatanggi o kakalimutan ang dilim ng kasasayan,” the Manila archbishop said in a statement released on Wednesday.

(However, we cannot learn these important lessons if we try to deny or forget history's dark past.)

“Huwag nawa nating kalimutan ang mga aral mula sa panahon ng Martial Law. Nakita na natin ang liwanag. Huwag na tayong bumalik sa dilim,” he added.

(Let us not forget the lessons from the Martial Law period. We have seen the light. Let us not return to the dark.)

In a separate statement, the Society of Jesus Social Apostolate Philippine Province and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan expressed solidarity to the victims of Martial Law.

“We remember this day especially for them and their families so that their truths and sacrifices will not be forgotten and that their struggles and pains will not just be buried without any resolution or healing,” the group said.

“We continue to call for genuine accountability from the perpetrators of Martial Law's evils and demand that the victims get the justice they deserve,” it added.

The group also called Filipinos not to allow burying the truth “under webs of lies.”

“When we collectively forget and distort the truth of our history, we also begin to lose part of our identity as a people,” it said.

“Historical revisionism must be rejected; impunity and deceit must not triumph. We will never sacrifice the truth for sham stability and unity,” it added.

In the 21-year period of the Marcos regime, global rights watchdog Amnesty International documented an estimate of 70,000 incarcerated individuals, 34,000 torture victims and 3,240 murdered Filipinos by state forces.

GMA News Online sought the comment of Malacañang but it has yet to respond as of posting time.—LDF, GMA News