© Jessica Bartolome
The daughter of a Martial Law victim warned that a revolutionary government could end up being even worse than martial law under the Marcos regime.
Erlinda Pedroso, daughter of activist Coronacion “Walingwaling” Chiva, on Thursday said that kind of governance is not what people imagine it to be, adding that she could not see it benefiting ordinary citizens.
“Delikado ngayon. Nagsasabi sila na revolutionary government. Sobra pa 'yun sa Martial Law,” she told GMA News Online.
“Iba yung sinasabi nila na revolutionary government. Hindi para sa masa. Hindi para sa ordinaryo na mga tao kundi para lang sa naghahari,” she added.
Pedroso made the comment after accepting the recognition awarded to her mother, whose name was added to the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng nga Bayani in Quezon City on Thursday along with ten other Martial Law heroes and martyrs.
Chiva, better known as Walingwaling, was a member of the Hukbalahap movement during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
Walingwaling was among those arrested in 1972, after Martial Law was declared. She spent six months in prison and was 51 when she was shot dead.
Pedroso said that her mother used to tell her to not be afraid. She has the same message now to the youth, whom she urged to resist a revolutionary government.
“Dapat 'yung mga kabataan ngayon huwag matakot. Wala naman tayong magawa kung hindi tayo’y maglaban. Dapat labanan natin ito para hindi matuloy yung proposed nila na magrevolutionary government,” Pedroso said.
“Ang mga kabataan ngayon dapat masigasig sa mga sitwasyon,” she added.
President Rodrigo Duterte last month threatened a "revolutionary government," saying he would set one up if "destabilization" efforts by his critics continue. He later dismissed the idea, saying he would only declare it if the country falls into chaos due to these supposed destabilization efforts.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said that there is "no need" for a revolutionary government.— BM, GMA News