Marcos singilin! Duterte panagutin! Sara litisin!
39th Anniversary of EDSA People Power Uprising
This year marks the 39th Anniversary of the People Power Uprising or EDSA I when millions took to the streets to oust the Marcos Sr. regime after years of fascist violence, plunder, and corruption. It is critical that we recognize and uplift this pivotal moment in our history in the face of blatant revisionism and erasure by the current Marcos Jr. regime.
We can never forget the struggles of the Filipino people against fascist dictatorship and we remember all the thousands who were killed by the state, victims of torture, disappearances, and imprisonment. While the People Power Uprising of 1986 showed the strength of a people united against fascism, it only removed the tip of the iceberg by ousting the Marcoses from Malacañang. What remained is a corrupt and fascist system that has resulted in more exploitation, plunder, and repression.
While Marcos Jr. postures as a clean-cut democratic leader, we must point to the ever-increasing violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) since he took office in 2022. His rule is straight from his father’s playbook, with at least 14 enforced disappearances, 119 extrajudicial killings against activists, 910 in his war on drugs, and more aerial bombardments. There is effectively martial law in the countryside of the Philippines, with millions feeling the clampdown and restriction of movement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In the cities, political repression is rampant with more human rights defenders being charged under the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA), wrongfully accusing them of financing terrorist activities. The Marcos Jr. regime has also used Batas Pambansa 880, a martial law era relic, to quell rallies and protests by wrongfully accusing participants of illegal assembly.
On the other side, the Dutertes are doing what they can to shore up their own fascist power, leading to a messy disentanglement between the once declared Uniteam. Sara’s blatant disregard for democracy and her outright corruption, particularly in abusing her office’s budget, has sparked widespread outrage among the Filipino public and has resulted in her impeachment by the House. The trial is at a standstill with Congress on recess, but Marcos Jr. should compel the Senate to hold this trial and not let it wait until after the midterm elections.
39 years ago millions took to the streets, but that was preceded by years of resistance by activists and organizers. In the United States, Filipinos in the diaspora also mobilized en masse. We must remember our legacy, learn from our history, and find the resolve to fight back now.
Join Malaya Movement USA: malayamovement.com/join
Attend our 7th Year Anniversary Fundraiser this Friday, 2/28: tinyurl.com/Malaya-7th
Donate: malayamovement.com/7thyear
