Chel Diokno Has Storytime for His Experience During Martial Law
Atty Jose Manuel Tadeo “Chel” Icasiano Diokno shares a story of his experience while living under the Martial Law of former president Ferdinand E Marcos Sr.
The human rights attorney posted an almost two-minute video on his experiences living under martial law on Twitter. He claims that September always conjures up numerous memories of the Philippines’ allegedly gloomy period.
“Storytime mga anak. Siguro alam n’yo na ngayon na ‘yung nangyari doon sa dad ko [noong] September 23, 1972. Inaresto siya na walang kasong kriminal laban sa kanya, walang warrant of arrest. Talagang bumaliktad ‘yung mundo namin noon,” Diokno began.
” We have to even suffer in the indignity of having to be strip naked tuwing dumadalaw kami sa dad ko so talagang hindi makatao at hindi makatarungan ‘yung experience namin noong Batas Militar,” he added.
He recalled a client he had in Fort Bonifacio in the 1990s who was a member of the military. He said that he felt as though his father’s prison cell had been transported back to him.
“Pagdating ko doon sa may Fort Bonifacio, doon pa lang sa may harap ng gate sabi ko, ‘alam ko itong lugar na ito ha. Dito ata nakulong ang tatay ko,’” he said.
“Noong kausap ko na mga kliyente ko, sabi ko sa kanila, ‘kilala ko itong lugar ninyo, dito nakulong ‘yung father ko noon’,” he added.
A picture of his family was in the office, according to his clients, but he wasn’t shown it. The human rights attorney remembered that when they first began to see his father, the entire family was brought before a military photographer, made to stand with a nameplate, and photographed before being handed an ID.
Another video that he published in a different tweet shows him telling a bittersweet anecdote that makes him think of his father under Martial Law. He claimed that he gave his father’s request for permission to clear the talahib. They, therefore, bring their siblings every week to dig them up and plant new ones.
He had a client that was there as well a few years later. He re-acquainted himself with the area and recalled where the garden was. The declaration of martial law was made 50 years ago on this Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
READ ALSO: Bayan Group Wants Maid in Malacañang to be Cancelled in Europe
What are your thoughts on this article? Just feel free to leave your reactions in the comment section.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. We aim to give the freshest and in-demand content to our visitors. Come back next time at PhilNews for more updated news.
