NL martial law detainees hound Bongbong in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- As Sen. Bongbong Marcos brought his vice-presidential campaign here, former detainees under martial lawaired protests saying they were against the return to power of the late strongman’s son. 

Joanna K. Cariño, chairperson of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto – Northern Luzon said they launched

Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA) urging Northern Luzon constituents to “never forget martial law and to say No to Bongbong Marcos.”

Carino said the Marcos Bust at Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet had long been a symbol of the Marcos dictatorship in Northern Luzon.

During the martial law period, she said the late president built a huge bust of his face along the mountainside of Taloy Sur, ala Mt Rushmore.

“The land of the people of Taloy Sur was grabbed to make way for the Marcos Park with the bust overlooking the cottages, golf course and other structures.”

After the EDSA 1 revolution and the fall of the dictatorship, the Cordillera People’s Alliance reportedly met with then President Corazon Aquino and among the demands that were met was the return of the land to the people of Taloy Sur.

“There was a big celebration at the Marcos Park and the bust was festooned with streamers proclaiming the success of the people’s struggle against the dictatorship,” Carino said. 

“Shortly thereafter, the bust was exploded as a rejection of the people of the North of the Marcos dictatorship. Now the son refuses to apologize for the sins of martial law that he was also part of.”

CARMMA members hung streamers on the defaced Marcos Bust April 15 to coincide with Bongbong’s arrival in Baguio City like: Never again to martial law.”