Makabayan bloc seeks probe on DepEd Martial Law 'rebranding'

Members of the Makabayan bloc are calling for an investigation into the alleged whitewashing and rebranding of the Martial Law years through learning modules of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The bloc made the call through House Resolution 498, which also condemned "the historical distortion and whitewashing of Martial law era via the DepEd and its school modules."

In filing the resolution on Wednesday, the lawmakers — Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan — questioned the use of the phrase "Bagong Lipunan" in the modules to refer to the Martial Law years.

The "Bagong Lipunan" phrase, the lawmakers noted, was also used by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during his campaign for the presidency in the 2022 elections.

"The Marcos 2022 campaign even rebranded the bloody martial law era not just as the 'Bagong Lipunan' but also the 'Golden Era'," the lawmakers said in their resolution.

The Makabayan members also said they received reports that DepEd's consultation on the revision of the K to 12 involved extending an invitation to a University of the Philippines professor "to discuss changes that will happen in the new curriculum," which allegedly include "the erasure of any recognition of the excesses, abuses, and fascism suffered by the people under the hands of Marcos, his family, cronies, and the military."

According to the lawmakers, "[w]hitewashing, rebranding, revisioning, and/or distorting historical facts" violate the intent of Republic Act 10368 to recognize the victims of Martial Law, which was declared in September 1972 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the incumbent President's late father.

RA 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act, provides compensation to and recognizes the heroism and sacrifices of all Filipinos who were victims of summary execution,  torture, enforced or involuntary disappearances, and other gross human rights violations committed during the Martial Law years.

"As duly elected representatives of the people, it is our duty to protect the honor and dignity of the Filipino people who sacrificed their lives to restore the democratic rule in the country," the Makabayan lawmakers said in justifying their call for a congressional probe.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the DepEd secretary, earlier refuted claims of rebranding Martial Law historical records in school modules, saying her department "is not in the business of erasing these facts."

In an October 25 statement, Duterte said the terms "New Society" or "Bagong Lipunan" and Martial Law are both historical facts and have been used in DepEd textbooks since 2000 "within their proper context."

Sought for comment regarding Makabayan's resolution, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa on Thursday said, "[We have] no further comments. The Vice President and Secretary of Education has already issued her statement on the matter," referring to the October 25 statement.

Duterte was Marcos' running-mate during the May 2022 elections. —KBK, GMA News