Month: September 2016

Bam: Clear policy essential to country’s economic development

A senator urged the government to lay down a clear foreign policy direction, saying it is essential to the economy and the country’s development as a nation.

 Sen. Bam Aquino has filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues amid varying statements by President Duterte and other administration officials.

 ​​“Given recent statements coming from the President and senior government officials, there is a need to clarify government’s position and engagements with its neighbors and allies,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

 ​​“This is to assure the Filipino public and international community that we are pursuing a clear and coherent foreign policy that is most beneficial to the country,” he added.

 Sen. Bam saw the need for clarification after contrasting claims by several government officials on different foreign policy issues​, such as our joint maritime patrols and ​​the stationed American troops in Mindanao.​

 ​“I hope we can clear up these conflicting statements soon so that our strategies to protect our territory and develop our economy are aligned with the administration,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 As provided in Article 2, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, Sen. Bam said a clear strategic foreign policy is integral to the country’s development.

 ​“Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 

BIDA KA!: Aral ng kasaysayan

Mga bida, marami sa atin ay pamilyar na sa kasabihang “ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan”.

Madalas, ikinakabit ang kasabi­hang ito sa utang na loob sa ­kapwa ngunit ito’y maiuugnay rin sa ­kasaysayan.

Mahalaga na alam natin ang nilalaman ng ating kasaysayan, maging mabuti man ito o masama, upang matuto tayo sa karanasan ng nakaraan.

Kung ito ma’y masama, ang aral ng nakaraan ay magsisilbing paalala sa atin na huwag nang hayaang ito’y mangyari muli.

Sa ibang bansa sa Europa, gaya ng Germany, itinuturo ang holocaust na madilim na bahagi ng kanilang kasay­sayan sa mamamayan upang magsilbing gabay sa kasalukuyan at ­susunod na henerasyon.

May panukala pa silang inilatag upang tiyaking tama at batay sa katotohanan ang mga itinuturo ukol sa malawakang pagpatay sa mga Hudyo.

Dito sa atin, nakasaad sa Section 27 ng Martial Law Victim Reparation Act of 2013 na dapat magtulungan ang CHED at DepEd sa pagpapakalat ng impormasyon ukol sa Martial Law upang hindi na ito muling mangyari.

***

Ito ang isa sa pangunahing dahilan kaya tayo naghain ng resolusyon upang alamin kung paano itinuturo ang Martial Law sa ating mga paaralan.

Ginawa natin ang hakbang matapos tayong tumanggap ng balita na hindi tama at kulang ang impormasyong nakalagay sa mga aklat sa mga eskuwelahan.

 

Hindi nakalagay rito ang libu-libo katao na namatay, pinahirapan o bigla na lang nawala o ang sampung bilyong dolyar na ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Maliban pa rito, may tangka rin sa Internet na baguhin ang kasaysayan at palitawin na ang Martial Law ay isa sa pinakamagandang panahon sa ating bansa.

Ang masakit nito, marami sa ating mga kabataan ang ­naniniwala sa mga maling kuwento sa Internet dahil na rin sa kawalan ng sapat na kaalaman sa nangyari noong panahon ng Martial Law.

***

Sa pagdinig noong Martes, natutuwa tayo sa ibinalita ni Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor ­Briones, na isa ring biktima ng Martial Law, na kasalukuyan nang ­inilalatag ng ahensiya ang bagong curriculum na bahagi ng K to 12 program.

Sa nasabing pagbabago, ilalatag na ang mas kumpetong larawan ng ating kasaysayan, kung saan makikita ng ating mga kabataan ang lahat ng aspeto ng mga nangyari sa naka­lipas, lalo nang katiwalian at pag-abuso na nangyari noong Martial Law.

Ang mga pagbabagong ito ay bunga ng pagtutulungan ng mga personalidad mula sa iba’t ibang larangan, mula sa kasaysayan gaya ng National Historical Commission of the ­Philippines at Commission on Human Rights.

May panawagan din ang DepEd na sa mga susunod na pagbuo ng bagong curriculum at mga aklat na ukol sa kasay­sayan, magtulung-tulong ang iba’t ibang historian, mga abogado at iba pang may alam sa batas upang mabuo ang mas akmang nangyari sa nakalipas.

Ayon sa DepEd, ginagawa nila ang lahat upang mapa­dali ang paglabas ng mga bagong libro na nag­lalaman ng mga bagong detalye ukol sa ating kasaysayan, hindi lang ng Martial Law, kun’di ng iba pang pag-abuso na nangyari sa mga nakalipas na ­panahon.

Kapag kumpleto na ang paglalabas ng DepEd ng mga aklat na naglalaman ng bagong impormasyon ukol sa kasaysayan, magkakaroon ang mga kabataan ng matibay na pundasyon ng kaalaman.

Sa tulong nito, mas madali nilang masusuri at masasala ang nakikita nila sa Internet kung ito ba’y may katotohanan o pawang kasinungalingan lang.

Sabi nga, sa anumang larangan, lamang ang may alam.

Bam: LGUs open to fast tracking permits for cell sites, IT infrastructure

Are you amenable to fast tracking permits for Internet infrastructure?

 Senator Bam Aquino threw this challenge to local government units (LGUs), which are being blamed for the slow and tedious issuing of permits to build the cell sites needed to improve internet quality in the country.

 “If we include provisions on fast tracking cell site construction, how would the LGUs feel about that?” Sen. Bam asked during the Senate hearing on proposal to grant President Duterte emergency powers to solve the worsening traffic problem in the country.

“If in the emergency powers bill, in an Executive Order, or in the Free Wi-Fi Bill, nakalagay doon na within one month, the cities must choose specific areas for cell site applications, would you be amenable?” Sen. Bam asked Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco and representatives from Manila and Pasay.

“Opo. In fact, we also want that dahil iyan ang hinihingi ng mga kababayan namin, magiging expeditious din ang mga proyekto at the same time, iyong access the communication mabilis din,” said Mayor Bautista.

 However, Bautista said they can only fast track the process for government-owned properties and not on private properties, such as subdivisions, which must go through the regular process of permit approval.

 “We fully support that proposal. Kaya po iyon,” said Manila City administrator Atty. Ericson Alcovendaz.

 “We support that initiative. Information Technology (IT) has a significant footprint on the solution [to traffic]. If we can make less people go out on the streets and work from home, so much the better,” stressed Pasay City administrator Dennis Acorda.

Chipeco, for his part, supports the proposal as he sees the need to improve Internet speed because it is a necessity, more than a luxury. 

In an earlier hearing conducted by Sen. Bam as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and telecommunication companies complained about difficulty in acquiring permits from LGUS for their infrastructure development efforts.

Bam: ‘Historical revisionism’ of Martial Law slap in face of victims

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed alarm over the “historical revisionism” efforts to make it appear that the Martial Law era was the golden years in our country’s history saying, “it’s a slap in the face of the thousands who were unjustly tortured and killed during that period”.
 
“Hindi lang siya nakakalimutan, binabago na ang ating kasaysayan. Iyon iyong mas nakakabahala, na tila sinasabi na sa panahon ng Martial Law, walang namatay, walang kinulong, walang tinorture,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“It’s a disservice and a slap in the face for those victims na parang kinakalimutan natin ang masamang nangyari noong panahon na iyon,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
According to historical records, 3,257 were killed, around 35,000 were tortured while 70,000 were incarcerated during the Martial Law rule, which ran from 1972 to 1981.
 
In addition to the rampant human rights violation, an estimated $10 billion in government money was stolen, according to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) records.
 
As part of his advocacy to educate today’s youth about the horrors of Martial Law, Sen. Bam recently conducted an investigation to determine how it is being taught in public elementary, high schools and colleges.
 
During the hearing, the Department of Education, through Sec. Leonor Briones, revealed that the agency would introduce a new curriculum and new textbooks in the next few months that will provide accurate details about the dark side of the Martial Law era.
 
“We’re happy that DepEd is undergoing the change in curriculum at sabi nga nila, ipapakita nila ang mas kumpletong larawan ng Martial Law. Palagay ko kasi, ang lumang textbook natin, ayaw ipakita iyong mga masamang nangyari sa ating bansa,” Sen. Bam said.
 
“Secretary Briones herself said na itong curriculum change, makikita ng mga kabataan natin iyong kasamaan ng Martial Law, which is, of course, the corruption and human rights abuses,” he added.
 
Sen. Bam is confident that if the youth are properly informed about what really occurred during the Martial Law era, they can scrutinize what they see online.
 
“Kung mayroon silang pundasyon kung ano ang tama at ano ang mali, ano iyong nangyari at ano iyong hindi nangyari, pag online na sila ay mas may kakayahan silang suriin kung ano talaga ang katotohanan,” Sen. Bam said.

BIDA KA!: Aral ng kasaysayan

Mga bida, marami sa atin ay pamilyar na sa kasabihang “ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan”.

Madalas, ikinakabit ang kasabi­hang ito sa utang na loob sa ­kapwa ngunit ito’y maiuugnay rin sa ­kasaysayan.

Mahalaga na alam natin ang nilalaman ng ating kasaysayan, maging mabuti man ito o masama, upang matuto tayo sa karanasan ng nakaraan.

Kung ito ma’y masama, ang aral ng nakaraan ay magsisilbing paalala sa atin na huwag nang hayaang ito’y mangyari muli.

Sa ibang bansa sa Europa, gaya ng Germany, itinuturo ang holocaust na madilim na bahagi ng kanilang kasay­sayan sa mamamayan upang magsilbing gabay sa kasalukuyan at ­susunod na henerasyon.

May panukala pa silang inilatag upang tiyaking tama at batay sa katotohanan ang mga itinuturo ukol sa malawakang pagpatay sa mga Hudyo.

Dito sa atin, nakasaad sa Section 27 ng Martial Law Victim Reparation Act of 2013 na dapat magtulungan ang CHED at DepEd sa pagpapakalat ng impormasyon ukol sa Martial Law upang hindi na ito muling mangyari.

***

Ito ang isa sa pangunahing dahilan kaya tayo naghain ng resolusyon upang alamin kung paano itinuturo ang Martial Law sa ating mga paaralan.

Ginawa natin ang hakbang matapos tayong tumanggap ng balita na hindi tama at kulang ang impormasyong nakalagay sa mga aklat sa mga eskuwelahan.

Hindi nakalagay rito ang libu-libo katao na namatay, pinahirapan o bigla na lang nawala o ang sampung bilyong dolyar na ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Maliban pa rito, may tangka rin sa Internet na baguhin ang kasaysayan at palitawin na ang Martial Law ay isa sa pinakamagandang panahon sa ating bansa.

Ang masakit nito, marami sa ating mga kabataan ang ­naniniwala sa mga maling kuwento sa Internet dahil na rin sa kawalan ng sapat na kaalaman sa nangyari noong panahon ng Martial Law.

***

Sa pagdinig noong Martes, natutuwa tayo sa ibinalita ni Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor ­Briones, na isa ring biktima ng Martial Law, na kasalukuyan nang ­inilalatag ng ahensiya ang bagong curriculum na bahagi ng K to 12 program.

Sa nasabing pagbabago, ilalatag na ang mas kumpetong larawan ng ating kasaysayan, kung saan makikita ng ating mga kabataan ang lahat ng aspeto ng mga nangyari sa naka­lipas, lalo nang katiwalian at pag-abuso na nangyari noong Martial Law.

Ang mga pagbabagong ito ay bunga ng pagtutulungan ng mga personalidad mula sa iba’t ibang larangan, mula sa kasaysayan gaya ng National Historical Commission of the ­Philippines at Commission on Human Rights.

May panawagan din ang DepEd na sa mga susunod na pagbuo ng bagong curriculum at mga aklat na ukol sa kasay­sayan, magtulung-tulong ang iba’t ibang historian, mga abogado at iba pang may alam sa batas upang mabuo ang mas akmang nangyari sa nakalipas.

Ayon sa DepEd, ginagawa nila ang lahat upang mapa­dali ang paglabas ng mga bagong libro na nag­lalaman ng mga bagong detalye ukol sa ating kasaysayan, hindi lang ng Martial Law, kun’di ng iba pang pag-abuso na nangyari sa mga nakalipas na ­panahon.

Kapag kumpleto na ang paglalabas ng DepEd ng mga aklat na naglalaman ng bagong impormasyon ukol sa kasaysayan, magkakaroon ang mga kabataan ng matibay na pundasyon ng kaalaman.

Sa tulong nito, mas madali nilang masusuri at masasala ang nakikita nila sa Internet kung ito ba’y may katotohanan o pawang kasinungalingan lang.

Sabi nga, sa anumang larangan, lamang ang may alam.

***

Mga Bida, makipagkuwentuhan kay Sen. Bam sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino o sa e-mailbidakacolumn@gmail.com

Sen. Bam on staying in the majority

(Transcript of media interview)

 

Q: What do you think of the situation of Sen. De Lima because nalabas iyong phone number niya, her address, and sabi nga hindi siya makapasok today because she’s looking for a house actually?

 Sen. Bam: Well, it’s very unfortunate na nailabas iyong kanyang telephone number at saka iyong address niya. We’d like to hope that in the halls of Congress and the Senate, mayroon pa ring parliamentary courtesy. Mayroon pa rin pagkiling towards someone’s right to privacy.

Now we understand na ongoing iyong mga hearings sa kongreso. I think a resolution has also been filed already here that we also tackle these cases so the Senators can have a chance to question these witnesses as well and to check the veracity of their stories. We’ll probably take it from there. Doon na namin sila haharapin mismo.

 But again, you’d like to see some type of parliamentary courtesy. Noong tinanggal si Sen. De Lima bilang Chairperson on Justice, biglaan iyon sa amin. As we said in our statement the other day, kasama kami sa majority and yet no dialogue transpired. Walang consultation na nangyari. So, we felt that, at the minimum, some level of consultation or dialogue should have happened. Kaya kung napansin niyo, at the start of the hearing, Sen. Drilon was calling for a caucus. The reason for that was mapag-usapan. And, I truly believe that the concerns of our fellow Senators, kung pumayag sila na magkadiyalogo, ma-re-resolve naman na hindi kailangan tanggalin [si Sen. De Lima] doon sa Committee on Justice.

 And to be very frank, we were talking to Sen. De Lima yesterday, sabi namin “Kung ni-request sa iyo na ipaubaya mo ang pagiging chairperson for these hearings on extrajudicial killings, papayag ka ba?” 

 Sabi naman niya “Kung ni-request iyon sa akin ng colleagues ko, ba’t naman ako hindi papayag?”

 So we really believe that it was unncessary. It was too much. And kung pinayagan kaming mag-usap muna at magdiyalogo, puwede naman ito ma-resolve.

 

Q: What was behind the decision for you to stay in the majority?

 Sen. Bam: Well, you know, in the beginning, the reason for this supermajority is because each of us in our block, mayroon kaming mga repormang gustong maitulak. I’m Chairman of Education, so our Trabaho Centers, the Free Tuition Fee for SUCs, iyong ating programs for out-of-school youth – marami iyan.

 We all agreed yesterday that the reason for us being in the majority is because of our ability to push for these reforms. Kung kaya naming itulak ang mga repormang mahalaga sa bayan, magtatrabaho kami dito sa aming mga kumite. Kung hindi na namin kayang gawin iyon, ibang usapan iyon. If we are not allowed to push for these reforms, that’s a different take altogether. 

 And I think all of the members currently in the majority will stay in the majority because of that. At the end of the day, more than na-slight ka, more than nabastos ka, iyong mga repormang gusto mong itulak – iyon iyong mas mahalaga. And that was our decision. 

 

Q: Hindi ba sabi independent block under majority? 

 Sen. Bam: Well, may majority at may “medyo-rity”. Kami iyong “medyo-rity” diba. 

We’d like to think that in this supermajority, iba-iba rin iyong mga grupo diyan. Iba-iba din iyong mga pananaw sa mga iba’t-ibang issues. There are issues where we will all agree and there are issues where we won’t. And you will see that in our vote, and in our interpellations.  Ganoon lang talaga iyon.

 

Q: More criticisms? You will be more critical?

 Sen Bam: I think we’ve always had an independent stance in the Senate and in fact, I think that’s the role of the Senate in our history. Hindi lang sa current administration. Even during PNoy’s administration, GMA’s administration, even during Tita Cory’s administration, the Senate has always been an independent body. And I think iyon iyong pinakamahalaga, na ma-maintain – iyong independence. If we can maintain that independence, even while being in the majority and still able to push the reforms, ba’t kami aalis sa mayoria?

 Palagay ko, iyong pagiging independent, hindi lang iyan trabaho ng minority, trabaho iyan ng buong Senado.

 

Joint statement on Sen. De Lima’s removal as Committee on Justice chairperson

JOINT STATEMENT

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, and Senator Risa Hontiveros

 

We are deeply saddened by the events that transpired yesterday. Elementary courtesy dictates that we as members of the majority bloc of the Senate should have been consulted. The concerns of our colleagues could have been addressed if there was an opportunity for a dialogue.

No consultation or dialogue took place.

We recognize that the removal of Senator Leila De Lima as chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights as a political reality.

 Having said that, our alliance with the majority has always been based on the reforms that we believe will propel our nation to greater economic, political and social heights. We will continue to pursue these agenda.

As long as we believe that these reforms can be achieved, we will remain with the majority.

Coming from the events that transpired yesterday, we must remain vigilant and continue to assert the independence of the Senate.

Bam on Sen. De Lima’s ouster, LP in Senate majority

Transcript of media interview after the Senate hearing of the Committee on Education on Martial Law Education 

Q: What’s your take sa nangyari kahapon?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, I voted no because I thought it was unnecessary. Palagay ng ibang mga kasama namin na dapat mas maayos iyong pag-presinta ni Sen. De Lima. Puwede naman siyang kausapin. I don’t think it was necessary na palitan siya nang basta-basta. It was also unprecedented. Hindi pa nangyari iyan sa ating kasaysayan sa Senado. So, I’m hoping that Sen. Gordon who is now the new Justice Committee Chairman can lead the committee well, but I’m one of those who voted na hindi kinakailangan [palitan ang chairperson]. I felt that puwede pa naman mag-usap-usap iyong mga Senador bilang mga co-equals, bilang isang collegial body. 

 

Q: What will happen to the alliance between LP and PDP considering what happened na obviously, majority flexes its muscles. Will you stay in the majority given na ginawa nila ito?

 

Sen. Bam: We’re talking about that, to be very frank. We’ll be discussing it today and in the succeeding days. 

 Medyo nabigla kami kahapon na nangyari iyon so pag-uusapan namin iyan and I’m sure that will be the subject of our discussion for the next couple of days.

 We also want to check if the reforms that we want to push in the different committees can still be pushed in the current setup. 

 

Q: Sir, puwede i-consider na mag-join na kayo sa minority? 

 Sen. Bam: Well, again, iyan ang mga pag-uusapan pa. I’ll be very frank with you, nagulat kami kahapon sa mga pangyayari. We are part of the majority and usually, iyong mayorya, nag-uusap-usap muna iyan bago may gawin na ganiyan. 

 

Q: So hindi kayo nakonsulta?

Sen. Bam: Hindi kami na-consult, hindi ni-raise sa amin. Honestly, if it were raised earlier, probably that might not have been the outcome yesterday. Baka puwede pa pag-usapan ang mga bagay-bagay. But with regard to kung anong gagawin – anong mga next steps, I’ll have to admit to you, pag-uusapan pa iyon. 

 

Q: A little bit disappointed ba kayo? 

Sen. Bam: I was very disappointed with what happened yesterday, which is why I voted “No”.  

Usually, sa mga bagay-bagay na ganyan pinag-uusapan muna. If there were concerns about the way that she was sharing, that could have been raised in a caucus.

In fact, si Sen. Drilon was trying to call for a caucus yesterday noong nalaman namin na that would have been the subject matter of the privilege speech ni Sen. Alan.


There was an attempt. Baka puwede muna itong pag-usapan bilang isang majority.  We are part of the majority after all. But, mukhang a number of our colleagues, desidido na sila na tanggalin siya. So tinanggal na siya.

 

Q: Kailan iyong meeting?

Sen. Bam: It will happen over the next couple of days. We’ll have a series of meetings. Ayaw rin naman namin na rushed iyong aming mga desisyon tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay na iyan. Pag-uusapan. We’ll also consult with our other stakeholders, our other colleagues. We’ll talk about it. 

But definitely, I was very disappointed with the vote yesterday. I think it could have been a different outcome.

Bam on Martial Law Education, Historical Revisionism

Transcript of media interview after the Senate hearing of the Committee on Education on Martial Law Education

Sen. Bam: Unang una, iyong mga textbook mismo may problema na. The textbook we showed earlier, although ito iyong nire-replace ng bagong curriculum, talagang walang nakalagay tungkol sa pagnakaw ng panahong iyon, walang nakalagay tungkol sa tens of thousands na kinulong, the thousands na pinatay.

We’re happy that DepEd is undergoing the change in curriculum at sabi nga nila, ipapakita nila ang mas complete picture. Palagay ko kasi, ang lumang textbook natin, ayaw ipakita iyong mga masamang nangyari sa ating bansa.

Maybe it’s human nature that we don’t want to face the ugliness of our history. Ngayon, Secretary Briones herself said na itong curriculum change, sisikapin nila na buo iyong picture, mas makikita ng mga kabataan natin iyong downside ng Martial Law, which of course, is the corruption and human rights abuses.

Palagay ko, kung andiyan ang pundasyon ng kaalaman [ng kabataan], mas madali nilang susuriin ang nakikita nila online.

Kung mayroon silang foundation of what is right, what is wrong, ano iyong nangyari, ano iyong hindi nangyari, pag online na sila ay mas may kakayahan silang suriin kung ano talaga iyong nangyari o hindi.

It starts with our educational system. Palagay ko doon talaga magsisimula.

Maganda rin na nasabi ni Sec. Briones na hindi lang itong parte ng ating kasaysayan ang kanilang ni-review. The whole history ni-review. One of the other senators mentioned about the human rights abuses of the Americans. We talked about human rights abuses in other administrations and of course, iyong panahon ng Martial Law.

Magandang pangitain ito na mayroong mga pagbabago tayong makikita at iyong mga textbook natin na kulang-kulang, sana talagang palitan natin at mabago na talaga siya.

Q: After 44 years, alarmed ka ba na nakakalimutan na ang Martial Law?

Sen. Bam: Hindi lang siya nakakalimutan, nababago iyong ating kasaysayan. Iyon iyong mas nakakabahala na tila sinasabi na ang panahon ng Martial Law, walag namatay, walang kinulong, walang tinorture.

In fact, the textbook that I read from noong unang part ng hearing, kung babasahin mo iyon, parang napakasaya ng panahon ng Martial Law.

Nakakahiya sa mga tao gaya ni Sec. Briones. Siya mismo Martial Law victim. Siya mismo nahirapan noong panahong iyon.

It’s a disservice and a slap in the face for those victims na parang kinakalimutan natin ang masamang nangyari noong panahon.

Sometimes, we just have to face the fact na may masamang nangyari sa ating kasaysayan. Kung kinakalimutan natin iyan, we’re bound to repeat the same mistakes.

Q: Sabi ni Sec. Briones, the transition takes time. How soon you want to see the changes?

Sen. Bam: Technically itong curriculum change, 2013 pa ito. Ongoing pa iyong transition. This year, because of the transition, hindi maituturo gamit ang textbook ang Martial Law sa ating mga estudyante. It won’t be taught because it belongs in the old Grade 6 curriculum. Dahil may transition, hindi talaga siya maituturo this year.

Sa ibang mga eskuwelahan, iyong mga teachers ang nagkukusa na maglabas ng sariling learning materials. In fairness to those teachers, they’re doing their best to teach about it but with all of these transitions that are happening, may mga pagkukulang na kailangang punuan.

Alam naman iyan ng DepEd but we’re hoping that in the years to come, itong curriculum na mas kumpleto, mas naipapakita iyong masasamang nangyari din, iyon iyong gamitin sa ating mga eskuwelahan.

Q: Hindi po ba kayo naa-alarm sa efforts online to revise history, lalo na pagdating sa Martial Law?

Sen. Bam: That’s one of the reasons why na siniguro natin na mayroon tayong hearing about Martial Law education. May efforts online pero kung iyong mga eskuwelahan, kumpleto naman iyong tinuturo tungkol sa Martial Law, iyon ang talagang panlaban natin diyan. The NHCP, si chairperson Diokno herself said, historical fact na ang mga bagay-bagay na ito. Hindi na ito disputable. We have laws already talking about the atrocities of Martial Law. Natatakot ba tayo o nahihiya na pag-usapan ang masasamang bagay sa ating kasaysayan? Palagay ko, kailangan nating harapin iyan so we won’t repeat the mistakes of the past at iyong ating bayan din, makita natin na buo ang ating kasaysayan. Wala tayong kinakalimutan na mga bagay bagay.

Q: May efforts iyong online groups to make people aware na medyo niloko daw sila. Iyong mga tinuro sa kanila, like the Aquino family, change history in their favor…

Sen. Bam: Alam mo. Sabihin mo iyan sa mukha ng mga Martial Law victims. Tell it to them. Tell it straight to their face na hindi sila na-torture, hindi sila kinulong, hindi namatay iyong mga taong namatay, namatayan. Sila mismo. The list is quite long. Sabi nga ni Sec. Briones, baka hindi lang iyan 70,000. Baka more than 70,000 pa iyan because hindi pa nailalagay iyong mga victims in the Visayas and Mindanao. We owe it to them to be able to talk about these atrocities.

Q: Nabanggit po sa hearing sa Germany mayroong law to make sure na magtuturo ng holocaust…

Sen. Bam: Mayroon na tayong batas niyan. Iyon iyong isang bagay na ni-raise ko during the hearing. Our Martial Law Victim Reparation Act of 2013, Section 27, nakalagay doon na kinakailangan na iyong ating CHED at DepEd, pag-usapan iyong mga nangyari noong Martial Law, the atrocities para hindi na ito maulit uli.

It’s already in our laws, kailangan lang talaga itong i-implement nang maayos.

Senate to probe Martial Law education in basic, tertiary education

One day before the country commemorates one of the darkest chapters in its history, the Senate is set to conduct an inquiry to determine the status of Martial Law education in basic and tertiary education.
 
Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education, will lead the probe jointly with the Committee on Youth on Tuesday (September 20) at 9 a.m..
 
The Senate set the inquiry after Sen. Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 29 to look into how the Martial Law era is being taught in high school and colleges all over the country. 
 
Expected to attend the hearing are Department of Education (DepEd) Sec.  Leonor Briones,  National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Maria Serena Diokno and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon.
 
Sen. Bam saw the need to look into the matter, especially with the propagation of erroneous information on the Internet regarding the Martial Law, declared by former President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972.
 
“Kailangan nating malaman kung paano tinuturo ng Martial Law sa ating kabataan at siguraduhin na ang katotohanan ang nananaig sa ating mga paaralan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Napansin natin na mukhang nagkaroon na ng pagbabago sa kasaysayan. Nakakalungkot ang pangyayaring ito dahil tila kinalimutan na ang mga nagsakripisyo ng buhay noong panahon ng diktarudya,” he added.
 
According to historical records, 3,257 were killed, while an estimated 35,000 were tortured, and 70,000 incarcerated during the Martial Law rule, which ran from 1972 to 1981.
 
Aside from the rampant human rights violation during that time, an estimated $10 billion in government money was stolen, according to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) records.
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