Human rights groups said House Bill No. 7137 declaring Sept. 11 as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to celebrate the birth anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos is part of efforts to revise history by the Marcos family.

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said the passage on third and final reading of HB No. 7137 or the President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day bill was a “nefarious scheme to cover up the crimes” committed by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his family’s "blatant act of historical revisionism.”

“It is a grave disgrace to the memory of martial law victims and survivors, who have been violated many times over by the Marcos dictatorship,” she said in a Facebook post.

Solons voted 197 affirmative, nine negative, and one abstention to pass the bill authored by Ilocos Norte Reps. Ria Farinas and Angelo Marcos-Barba, a nephew of Marcos, and Probinsyano Ako Rep. Rudys Caesar Farinas.

The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) said this measure directly contradicts the intent of Republic Act No. 10368 or the law that recognizes human rights violations committed during the Marcos regime and providing reparations for victims.

SELDA, a human rights group composed of Martial Law victims, described the House’s move as as “infuriating and offensive.”

“This is an affront to the Filipino people who suffered because of the oppressive policies under Marcos and the plunder of the nation’s coffers,” said SELDA vice chair Danilo dela Fuente.