The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) criticized the Duterte government for scheduling a nationwide earthquake drill on September 21, the 45th anniversary of Martial Law.
Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes called the Duterte government 鈥渋nsensitive to the plight of martial law victims.鈥�
鈥淯nlike the Duterte regime, the people have not forgotten,鈥� Reyes said in a statement.
Progressive groups such as Bayan are set to hold massive demonstrations on September 21 to protest the Duterte administration鈥檚 bloody war on illegal drugs as well as alleged extra-judicial killings and human rights violations; and purported accommodation of the wishes of former President Ferdinand Marcos鈥� family, among others.
Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972.
鈥淪o, apart from conducting a nationwide earthquake drill on September 21, what will Malaca帽ang do to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Martial Law?鈥澛� Reyes asked. 鈥淥r has the occasion simply lost its relevance for the Duterte government; after allowing a hero鈥檚 burial for Marcos, declaring a special holiday in Ilocos and embarking on a settlement with the Marcos family?鈥�
Reyes assured that their demonstrations on Thursday would be 鈥減eaceful and organized鈥� amid President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 pronouncement that the聽government will not hesitate to use force should rallies become unruly.
Reyes then lamented that this year鈥檚 martial law anniversary ironically comes at a time when an actual martial law was declared in Mindanao and聽鈥渁t a time when government is threatening critics with nationwide Martial Law.鈥� /kga