About 40 years ago President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Presidential Decree 1081 declaring the entire country under a state of martial law.聽 Marcos declared martial law on September 21 but this was made public in Cebu on September 23, the birthday of聽 then Cebu governor Osmnudo G. Rama.聽聽 I remember we had a party for my uncle that started at 5 p.m.聽 and ended about 6 p.m. because a curfew was imposed that time. Many聽 us were scared about the declaration of martial law.
I was in second year high school at the University of San Carlos Boys High School when Marcos declared martial law. Classes was suspended for a week.聽 I can鈥檛聽 forget聽 that the night before the declaration a television station, I think ABS-CBN, had a live聽 newscast from Manila.
The Rama family had mixed emotions because it was the birthday of Osmundo at the same time his brother Napoleon Rama,聽 a Philippine Free Press columnist was arrested and detained by Marcos along聽 with Ninoy Aquino聽 and other figures of the political opposition.
It was a dark period of our history.聽 Marcos violated many provisions of the Constitution especially the Bill of Rights. People were arrested without warrants聽 or without charges being filed in court and many disappeared.聽 Freedom of speech and of the press were disregarded by the Marcos regime.
The martial law administrators abolished student councils. Those of us who experienced this turbulent period聽 can say聽聽 with conviction:聽 鈥淣ever again.鈥�
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The Liberal Party recently decided to make Congressman Tommy Osme帽a the standard bearer in Cebu City to the dismay of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama. Why would LP president Roxas聽 choose聽 one who is not a member of the Liberal party over one who is? How can the Liberal Party demand loyalty from its members when it can鈥檛 be loyal to its own聽 loyal members?聽 This reflects聽 the kind of politics in the party.
Nevertheless, congratulations to the Bando Osme帽a-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) for bagging the LP anointment聽 and good luck to Team Rama as it looks for what is good for the team in the聽 2013 election.
Team Rama has chosen to adopt lawyer Aristotle Batuhan as its congressional bet for the south district against Councilor Rodrigo 鈥楤ebot鈥� Abellanosa . This makes the election contest in south Cebu City聽 more interesting.聽 Both candidates are qualified and young.
In the north congressional district Team Rama is fielding actress Annabelle Rama while the BO-PK has still to decide between incumbent Cutie del Mar and her father former Congressman Raul del Mar.
In Cebu province, Gov. Gwen Garcia has dropped her initial political aspiration for the Senate and聽 decided to run for the聽 House of Representatives representing the 3rd district, boosting聽 the candidacy of brother Pablo John Garcia for governor.
Now the Garcias willhave two districts as bailiwicks 鈥� the聽 2nd district with reelectionist Congressman Pablo Garcia and the 3rd district, Pablo John鈥檚 former base.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of the 4th district is sticking it out with Garcia鈥檚聽 One Cebu party and supporting Pablo John for governor.
Pablo John and Junjun Davide will have to fight it out for聽 votes in the1st and聽 5th district.
I think Junjun聽 Davide is more popular than Pablo John Garcia but what is important is to convert that popularity to votes.
In the 1st聽 district outgoing Rep.聽 Eduardo Gullas may be friendly with the Liberal Party but his five聽 mayors are still with One Cebu Party and committed to support Pablo John Garcia.
An exodus of聽 mayors from One Cebu to LP聽 has not yet materialized. Only a few have left.