On the 39th anniversary of the historic EDSA People Power Uprising, we honor the unwavering spirit of the Filipino people in toppling the fascist dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The Indigenous Peoples and Bangsamoro were part of this historic mark, resisting the Marcos dictatorship through parliamentary effort but also armed struggle.
But EDSA is not just a moment in history—it is a continuing struggle against tyranny, corruption, and plunder. The same forces that oppressed the Moro and Indigenous Peoples under Martial Law remain in power today, perpetuating militarization, land-grabbing, and historical erasure. The son of the toppled dictator sits as President of the country, continuing the bloody and violent legacy of his father against the national minorities.
Marcos Jr.’s term is already marked by multiple bombings on the lands and territories of the national Minorities, as well as continuous harassment and killings. Both administrations are also marked by state-enforced abductions; currently, we are still searching for Dexter Capuyan and Bazoo de Jesus, Indigenous rights defenders. What differentiates Marcos Jr.’s reign from his father’s? The answer is nothing, which is why the Indigenous Peoples and Bangsamoro must continue to resist and fight.
The national minorities stand firm in the call to hold the Marcoses accountable, especially as we commemorate the EDSA People Power. The Marcoses have never been held accountable for plundering billions from the nation and for the human rights violations they allowed. They have not been held accountable for the countless Moro men, women, and children killed in Mindanao, inside their own homes and mosques. They have not been held accountable for the killing of Macli-ing Dulag and many other Indigenous activists who resisted the Chico Dam Project, Kaliwa Dam, and other destructive projects in indigenous lands and territories. It has been 39 years since the dictatorship was toppled, but the national minorities still seek justice.
Sara Duterte bleeds our country dry alongside Marcos Jr. She, a product of Rodrigo Duterte’s bloodstained legacy, continues to trample on the rights of the Moro and Indigenous Peoples while plundering public funds meant for social services. Her misuse of over ₱100 million in confidential funds is an insult to every Filipino suffering from hunger, joblessness, and a crumbling public service system. We must also remember that after Davao City where her dynasty reigned, two Lumad students, Mawing and Ismael Pangadas, were illegally arrested after attending People's SONA 2022 protest assembly in time for the 1st State of the Nation Address of Marcos Jr. As the Department of Education Secretary, Sara perpetuated a culture of red-tagging community-built Lumad schools, saying that they were run by teachers linked to terrorist groups.
Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas is resolved to hold Marcos accountable and to fully impeach Sara Duterte and bar her from public office again. We must also demand justice for Rodrigo Duterte’s reign of terror, which plunged the country into a dark era of mass killings and repression. It was also Duterte who outrightly declared to bomb the Lumad, with his ‘flatten the hills’ policy, impacting many Indigenous communities. It was during his term when Marawi was pulverized, and when Mindanao was placed under Martial Law, when more than 200 Lumad schools were forcibly closed. Last February 24, we commemorated the 3rd anniversary of the New Bataan 5 Massacre, which happened under Rodrigo’s name.
This EDSA anniversary, let us reclaim the spirit of resistance! Let us demand justice for past and present atrocities, defend our ancestral domains, and resist the continued plunder of our lands and resources. The struggle is far from over. From the past to the present, our fight remains just—and we will never surrender!
Reference:
Funa-ay Claver
Spokesperson
Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas
Comments