‘Fr. Soc’ slams martial law in his homily
THE martial law declared 45 years ago destroyed our national values and ruined our integrity.”
This was stressed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas in his homily last Thursday during the National Day of Protest at the St. John The Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan City, and expressed hope that it would be the last.
He recalled that people then were compelled to hold September 21 as “Araw ng Pasasalamat” or thanksgiving day citing it as the start of the New Society.
He said they were told that the reason for the martial law was the need for a disciplined people.
“Our elders spoke in whispers for fear someone was spying. We had elections but we knew the results even before the ballots were cast,” he added.
He recalled how television and radio broadcasts were censored and newspapers were controlled.
“Martial law was both murders and lies, martial law was all but hidden wealth and fake medals, martial law was a product of insanity of the dictator,” he stressed.
But, he pointed out that those years of murders and falsehood also brought out the best in so many ways. Many Filipinos became martyrs for freedom.
“For the martyrs of martial law, we offer our thanks giving to the lord,” said.
Moving on to the present situation, he said there is martial law only in Mindanao but the murders, he maintained, are all over the country numbering more than 13,000 now.
Photographs of alleged victims of extra-judicial killings were posted on the perimeter fence of the cathedral as sign of protest by the church of alleged extra-judicial killings.
Killing the poor and the poorest, seem to be the only solution some people know to stop crimes, he added.
He also bewailed that fake news abound and liars succeed to mislead and confuse.
“Decency has given way to cuss words. The respectful and the polite are ridiculed and the rude and ill-mannered are the new saints. Human rights and the indigenous peoples are worth one thousand pesos,” Villegas said.
“We voted for change and we should demand for change. Do not tolerate abuses. Demand the change that they promised,” Villegas urged the faithful.
In an interview, Archbishop Villegas called on all peace-loving people not to relax their guard because of the penchant of the incumbent president to joke about the possibility of declaring martial law nationwide.
“Ang martial Law ay hindi isang bagay na katatawanan kasi base sa mga taong dumaan sa yugto ng martial law, hindi ito biro-biro,” he said.
Archbishop Villegas led a procession that saw participants carrying posters and placards opposing martial law. (Leonardo Micua/Eva Visperas)
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