By Edwin O. Fernandez, Mindanao Cross

 

COTABATO CITY  – Muslim victims of Martial Law under the hands of then President Ferdinand Marcos today expressed opposition to the desire of Sen. Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos to become the country’s next vice president.  

 

“We strongly express our most avowed disapproval of the candidacy for vice president of the late dictator’s son and namesake, Sen. Ferdinand "Bong Bong" R. Marcos, Jr,” members of Bangsamoro Justice-Seekers for Martial Law Massacre Victims, said in a statement signed by spokesperson Mambai Edon Sapalon.  

 

She said in support to statements previously issued by other victims of Martial Law, “we fiercely deplore the guiltless stance and refusal of Sen. Bong Bong Marcos to recognize the atrocities and destruction inflicted by his father's tyranny against our people.”  


It said the vice presidential candidate and the Marcoses have blood in their hands for the massacre of Bangsamoro people during the military rule. 

 

It listed the number of Moro fatalities.  

 

Thousands of victims including women, children, old people were put to death mercilessly by government forces, among which were those massacred in Manili, North Cotabato (70 dead) in 1971, Tacub, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte (140), in Alamada, North Cotabato (73) in 1971, Magsayasay, Lanao del Norte (66) in 1971, Kisulon, Bukidnon (67) in 1971, Buldon, Maguindanao (60) in 1971, Malisbung, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat (1,000+) in 1973, Patikul, Sulu (700+) in 1977, and Pata Island in Sulu (2,000+) in 1981. 

The Justice-Seekers said like his father, Senator Marcos “committed a massacre of his own by butchering the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the Halls of Senate.”  

 

BBL is a draft enabling law that will fully implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro entered into by the government with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  

 

“Sen. Marcos even brazenly announced the death of the BBL, branding it as a foolish attempt at peace, which consequently killed the hopes and dreams of the Moro people,” the Martial Law Justice-Seekers said.  

 

“His apathy and proven disinterest in achieving real and lasting peace in Mindanao gravely debilitate and put to waste the concerted efforts of concerned stakeholders in the decades-old peace processes in the country,” it said.  

 

The group also rallied its people not to take the hard-earned freedom and democracy as a result of the Mindanao peace process for granted.

 

“Let us never allow ourselves, our loved ones, and the future generation to once again be subjected and succumb to similar oppression and injustices that we have experienced in the hands of the Marcoses,” the group said.  


“Never again to the Marcoses in the helm of power in this country,” it added.