Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3288

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by Reps. TEDDY A. CASINO and NERI JAVIER COLMENARES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill is essentially about remembrance and celebration — the remembrance of a dark era
that brought shame and infamy to the nation, and the celebration of the courage and
conviction of those who refused o submit co tyranny and paid the ultimate sacrifice so chat
we may live in relative freedom today.

Uhe declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972 by former President Ferdinand
Marcos ushered in a period unparalleled in post-war Philippine history. The suppression of
democratic rights and civil liberties, the unbroken pattern of gross human rights violations
and the systematic plunder of the nation’s treasury were its terrible legacy, the effects of
which our nation still has to recover from until toda

Compared to the other military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s, the Marcos regime was
exceptional by any standard for both the quantity and quality of its violence. While the
Marcos’ regime’s tally of 3,257 extrajudicial killings may be far lower than Argentina’s 8,000
nuissing, this exceeds the 2,115 extrajudicial deaths under General Augusto Pinochet in Chile
and the 266 dead under the Brazilian junta.

Under the authoritarian rule of Marcos, human rights violations were the
of terror ~ 3,257 killed, 35,000 tortured and 70,000 incarcerated. In
Argentina, only

x of a pyramid
riking contrast to

37 Filipinos “disappeared” between 1975 and 1985. However, nearly four
times that number ~ 2,250 ~ or 77 percent of all vietims alvaged. Many were tortured,
mutilated and dumped on a roadside for public display to create widespread fear.

In establishing a national day of remembrance and celebration, this bill hopes to impart the
lessons of martial law so the present generations and those yet to come shall never forget
what should never be repeated. The underlying objective is to teach the youth about the
difference between dictatorship and democracy, between oppression and freedom, benween,
right and wrong.

This bill Further seeks to underscore the continuing struggle for justice of the victims of
human tights violations during the Marcos era. Its authors hope that by taking the necessary
steps toward redressing these gross violations, the long-overdue process for remembering,


for recording and for atoning can be established so that the nation can come to terms with
the past.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought

Ipprove

A. Cn
DY A. CASINO. NERI ay \ COLMENARES
Bayan Muna Party-list Bayan Muga Party-list

CO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
3288
HOUSE BILL No,

Introduced by Reps. TEDDY A. CASINO and NERI JAVIER COLMENARES

AN ACT
DECLARING SEPTEMBER 21 OF EVERY YEAR AS A “NATIONAL DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE” IN MEMORY OF THE STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICES OF
THE HEROES AND MARTYRS OF THE MARTIAL LAW ERA

Be it enacted by the Senate and the Wlouse of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assenbleds

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “National Day of Remembrance Act” in

memory of the Filipino heroes and martyrs who stood up to the tyranny of the martial law
regime under President Ferdinand [:, Marcos from September 2
and whose struggles and sacrifices have

1972 to Februa
abled us to live in freedom today

25, 1986

1es of the heroes and martyrs of
and democratic institutions, instill

e between dictatorship and democracy, between oppression
and freedom, between right and wrong, and to impart the lessons of martial law so the
present generations and those yet to come shall never forget what should never be repeated,
September 21 of every year is hereby declared as a special working holiday to be known as
the “National Day of Remembrance.”

eness about the di

SECTION 3. Government offices, schools, and other agencies and establishments in both
the public and private sectors shali celebrate this observance with appropriate activities,
ceremonies and programs thac demonstrate the national commitment to democracy,
freedom, human rights and justice and that pay due homage to the heroes and martyrs of the

mastial law

The Commission on Human Rights, Department of Education, National Historical Institute,
Philippine Information Agency, the premier state schools and universities, and the other
appropriate agencies of the government, shall take the lead in establishing multifarious
prominent activities and productions across the country ia this regard.

SECTION 4, ‘To ensure the meaningful observan
heads of government and private facilities, off
afford sufficient ime and opportunities fc
and participate in any activity to mark the

¢ of the holiday as herein declared, all

d instrumentalities shall encourage and
their employces, personnel or students to engage
tional Day of Remembrance.”



SECTION 5. Symbolic reparation through the erection of memorials, monuments and
tombstones, and renaming of public places named after the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and
his family shall be undertaken,

SECTION 6. ‘he funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in
the budgets of the Commission on Human Rights and Department of Education under the
General Appropriations Act of the year following the enactment of this Act.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least

wo (2) newspapers of general circulation

\pproved,