Young people visit Martial Law-related sites ahead of 50th anniversary | ABS-CBN
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Young people visit Martial Law-related sites ahead of 50th anniversary
Young people visit Martial Law-related sites ahead of 50th anniversary
Jaehwa Bernardo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Sep 18, 2022 03:21 PM PHT
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MANILA — Some 50 young people took part Sunday in a bus and walking tour at various Martial Law-related sites in Metro Manila as the 50th anniversary of the declaration of military rule in the country by the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. nears, Akbayan Party said.
MANILA — Some 50 young people took part Sunday in a bus and walking tour at various Martial Law-related sites in Metro Manila as the 50th anniversary of the declaration of military rule in the country by the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. nears, Akbayan Party said.
"This is a profound journey for the truth, for the memory of those who gave their lives for the freedoms we have now, and the lessons that this dark past should teach us," Akbayan spokesperson RJ Naguit said in a statement.
"This is a profound journey for the truth, for the memory of those who gave their lives for the freedoms we have now, and the lessons that this dark past should teach us," Akbayan spokesperson RJ Naguit said in a statement.
"As we mark the 50th year since the declaration of Martial Law, we remind everyone that history is not a random collection of names, dates and places. It is about the struggle, and the search for the truth behind the past. It is a living guide for the future of our youth and our nation," he said.
"As we mark the 50th year since the declaration of Martial Law, we remind everyone that history is not a random collection of names, dates and places. It is about the struggle, and the search for the truth behind the past. It is a living guide for the future of our youth and our nation," he said.
The commemoration of Marcos' Martial Law declaration is commonly observed every Sept. 21, the day in 1972 when he signed Proclamation No. 1081.
The commemoration of Marcos' Martial Law declaration is commonly observed every Sept. 21, the day in 1972 when he signed Proclamation No. 1081.
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It lasted until January 1981, during which human rights violations and massive corruption were reported.
It lasted until January 1981, during which human rights violations and massive corruption were reported.
Sunday's event was called the "Road Trip: A Martial Law history bus and walking tour." It started at 9 a.m., and is set to finish at 6 p.m., said Akabayan Party, which is one of the organizers.
Sunday's event was called the "Road Trip: A Martial Law history bus and walking tour." It started at 9 a.m., and is set to finish at 6 p.m., said Akabayan Party, which is one of the organizers.
The visited sites include the Mendiola Bridge, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Manila Film Center, the Coconut Palace, the Ninoy Aquino monument in Makati, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani and the University of the Philippines (UP).
The visited sites include the Mendiola Bridge, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Manila Film Center, the Coconut Palace, the Ninoy Aquino monument in Makati, the EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani and the University of the Philippines (UP).
Naguit said most of the participants are college and senior high school students students, while the rest were young professionals. A 15-year-old also joined.
Naguit said most of the participants are college and senior high school students students, while the rest were young professionals. A 15-year-old also joined.
Historian Xiao Chua led the tour, sharing stories behind the sites.
Historian Xiao Chua led the tour, sharing stories behind the sites.
At the Manila Film Center, tour participants offered flowers for the workers who died after the structure's scaffolding collapsed during its construction.
At the Manila Film Center, tour participants offered flowers for the workers who died after the structure's scaffolding collapsed during its construction.
The $21-million center was a project of former First Lady Imelda Marcos in her bid to make Manila the "Cannes of the East." For six months, 8,000 workers toiled 24 hours a day, up until the opening day in January 1982.
The $21-million center was a project of former First Lady Imelda Marcos in her bid to make Manila the "Cannes of the East." For six months, 8,000 workers toiled 24 hours a day, up until the opening day in January 1982.
Due to media censorship during martial law, the exact number of those who died in the accident remains a mystery, while rumors swirled that bodies remain trapped in the building to this day.
Due to media censorship during martial law, the exact number of those who died in the accident remains a mystery, while rumors swirled that bodies remain trapped in the building to this day.
At the UP Diliman campus, participants were brought to the UP Freedom Memorial Site, which houses the Aviation Security Command (Avsecom) van that carried former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. after he was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport in August 1983.
At the UP Diliman campus, participants were brought to the UP Freedom Memorial Site, which houses the Aviation Security Command (Avsecom) van that carried former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. after he was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport in August 1983.
"We will not surrender our country's memory to fakery. Even as the enemies of truth have the upper hand right now, we will continue to push back and reclaim our stories and history," Naguit said.
"We will not surrender our country's memory to fakery. Even as the enemies of truth have the upper hand right now, we will continue to push back and reclaim our stories and history," Naguit said.
Marcos' son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., was elected president in the May elections. His older sister, Imee, is a senator.
Marcos' son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., was elected president in the May elections. His older sister, Imee, is a senator.
In an interview that aired on ALLTV channel on his 65th birthday last Sept. 13, Marcos Jr. denied allegations that his family has been trying to revise history to clean their image following his father's decades-long dictatorship.
In an interview that aired on ALLTV channel on his 65th birthday last Sept. 13, Marcos Jr. denied allegations that his family has been trying to revise history to clean their image following his father's decades-long dictatorship.
“There’s no reason to revise history,” Marcos said in the taped interview.
“There’s no reason to revise history,” Marcos said in the taped interview.
“We recognize naman the problems that happened, the abuses that occurred like in any war. All of these things are some things that are already part of history,” he said.
“We recognize naman the problems that happened, the abuses that occurred like in any war. All of these things are some things that are already part of history,” he said.
Thousands of Filipinos have been recognized by courts as victims of rape, kidnapping, torture and military abuse during Marcos Sr.'s regime.
Thousands of Filipinos have been recognized by courts as victims of rape, kidnapping, torture and military abuse during Marcos Sr.'s regime.
Critics have said Marcos Jr's run for the presidency was driven by a massive misinformation campaign aimed at revamping the family brand.
Critics have said Marcos Jr's run for the presidency was driven by a massive misinformation campaign aimed at revamping the family brand.
- with Nico Bagsic, ABS-CBN News
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PAOCC: P210M spent since 2023 for detained POGO workers, billions in assets seized
PAOCC: P210M spent since 2023 for detained POGO workers, billions in assets seized
Foreign nationals arrested at a POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City in September 2024 are brought to Mactan Airbase for transfer to Metro Manila. Annie Perez
MANILA — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday said it has spent about P210 million in the past two years for the detention of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers arrested since the crackdown began in 2023.
MANILA — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday said it has spent about P210 million in the past two years for the detention of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers arrested since the crackdown began in 2023.
The PAOCC spends about “P35 million every 4 months” for the food, water, electricity, security officials and administrative costs for POGO workers who are awaiting deportation, said spokesperson Winston Casio.
The PAOCC spends about “P35 million every 4 months” for the food, water, electricity, security officials and administrative costs for POGO workers who are awaiting deportation, said spokesperson Winston Casio.
“Roughly two years na po so we may have spent already...P210 million to end this problem,” he told Palace reporters.
“Roughly two years na po so we may have spent already...P210 million to end this problem,” he told Palace reporters.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) explained that the PAOCC had to shoulder some of its costs as their detention facility in Taguig could only house up to 100 foreign nationals for deportation.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) explained that the PAOCC had to shoulder some of its costs as their detention facility in Taguig could only house up to 100 foreign nationals for deportation.
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“Ang PAOCC napakalaki ng tulong (has been a great help) in terms of housing them prior to deportation,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.
“Ang PAOCC napakalaki ng tulong (has been a great help) in terms of housing them prior to deportation,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.
As of December 2024, the PAOCC has deported 2,121 foreign nationals working in illegal POGO hubs. Nearly 340 others are awaiting deportation, according to data from the agency.
As of December 2024, the PAOCC has deported 2,121 foreign nationals working in illegal POGO hubs. Nearly 340 others are awaiting deportation, according to data from the agency.
“This does not include those who voluntarily left the country,” Casio said.
“This does not include those who voluntarily left the country,” Casio said.
But, Casio said, PAOCC's expenses have to be seen in the context of property seized in its operations.
But, Casio said, PAOCC's expenses have to be seen in the context of property seized in its operations.
“We could have already gained anywhere between P20 billion to P30 billion worth of real estate properties, tangible items, cars, name it,” he said.
“We could have already gained anywhere between P20 billion to P30 billion worth of real estate properties, tangible items, cars, name it,” he said.
He said that Anti-Money Laundering Council has already ordered market valuation of seized items and properties.
He said that Anti-Money Laundering Council has already ordered market valuation of seized items and properties.
Among the seized properties from POGOs that are awaiting deposition are several high-value properties in Pasay City, a hotel in Cebu, mega compounds in Tarlac and Pampanga, as well as 134 seized vehicles, Casio said.
Among the seized properties from POGOs that are awaiting deposition are several high-value properties in Pasay City, a hotel in Cebu, mega compounds in Tarlac and Pampanga, as well as 134 seized vehicles, Casio said.
Most of the POGO-linked foreign nationals who were either deported or awaiting deportation are from Vietnam, China, Indonesia and Myanmar, data from the BI showed.
Most of the POGO-linked foreign nationals who were either deported or awaiting deportation are from Vietnam, China, Indonesia and Myanmar, data from the BI showed.
Immigration officials are also working with various embassies so that they could shoulder the repatriation flights of their respective nationals who were involved in illegal gambling operations here, the agency’s spokesperson said.
Immigration officials are also working with various embassies so that they could shoulder the repatriation flights of their respective nationals who were involved in illegal gambling operations here, the agency’s spokesperson said.
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the Philippines after congressional investigations and multiple raids showed that the industry was linked to several criminal activities including torture, prostitution and human trafficking.
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the Philippines after congressional investigations and multiple raids showed that the industry was linked to several criminal activities including torture, prostitution and human trafficking.
Since the ban took effect on January 1, 2025, only 11,000 of the 33,000 registered POGO workers have remained in the Philippines, according to data from the BI.
Since the ban took effect on January 1, 2025, only 11,000 of the 33,000 registered POGO workers have remained in the Philippines, according to data from the BI.
Of the 11,254 POGO workers who stayed in the Philippines, 121 have been deported, 518 have been arrested, while 45 other voluntarily surrendered.
Of the 11,254 POGO workers who stayed in the Philippines, 121 have been deported, 518 have been arrested, while 45 other voluntarily surrendered.
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