Presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao has vowed to support any investigation into the cases of forced disappearances during the martial law period, saying Filipinos should not forget the atrocities during this dark period.
Pacquiao said this after offering a prayer and laying a wreath to the marker of human rights advocate Fr. Rudy Romano in Cebu City.
Romano is one of more than 2,000 victims of forced disappearances during martial law. He has been missing for 36 years and is revered as one of Cebu’s local heroes.
“Ayokong magbanggit ng pangalan, pero itong pagpunta ko rito ay pagbibigay respeto at simbolo ng Kalayaan ng bawat isa. Ito ay nagsisimboilo ng karapatan ng bawat isa, karapatan ng malayang pagpapahayag ng saloobin (I don’t want to mention names, but I went here to give respect and to symbolize the freedom of each one of us. It symbolizes our individual rights, the right to freely express our sentiments),” Pacquiao said in a media interview in Cebu City.
“Mensahe natin irespeto ang karapatan ng bawat isa. Lahat may karapatan na mabuhay ng walang takot (Our message is let’s respect the rights of each person. Everyone has a right to live without fear),” said Pacquaio.
“Freedom of speech ay dapat protektado. Puwede tayong maglabas ng opinyon sa publiko na hindi tayo natatakot na maipakulong (We should protect freedom of speech. We should be able to express our opinion publicly without fear of getting arrested),” the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) standard bearer said.
Pacquiao said the wounds suffered by the victims of martial law can be healed but they are forever scathed.
That is why, the senator said, he would support any investigation on several cases of forced disappearances during martial law.
“Sundin natin ang batas. Magimbestiga tayo para malaman kung sino ang mga dapat na parusahan (Let us follow the law. Let’s investigate so we would know who should be prosecuted),” he said.