Protesters, police clash in martial law rally

(UPDATES) PROTESTERS clashed with anti-riot police in the nation's capital on Saturday as the country commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. Police reports indicated that the protesters tried to make their way to Mendiola near Malacañan Palace, charging into an anti-riot police barricade. The clash that was caught on camera erupted. Carrying protective shields, the anti-riot police were able to forcefully drive away the protesters. There was no report of arrests, but one protester was pinned to the ground as anti-riot police tried to subdue him. The protesters later set up a stage on Recto Avenue after they failed to reach Mendiola. Meanwhile, on España Avenue, protesters gathered near Welcome Rotonda. Rallies and commemorative events were also carried out in multiple locations nationwide on Saturday to mark the declaration of martial law. The Buhay and EDSA Campaign Network launched on Saturday evening simultaneous candle-lighting campaign at multiple sites across the country to remember the atrocities during martial law. In Cebu City, a rally was carried out in Plaza Independencia. Protesters also marched from Fuente Osmeña Circle to Metro Colon. Proclamation 1081 was signed by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. on Sept. 21, 1972, placing the Philippines under Martial Law. According to data from the Human Rights Victims' Memorial Commission, more than 11,103 victims suffered human rights violations. Remembering 'darkest day' The Akbayan Party on Saturday expressed hope that the declaration of Martial Law will serve as an opportunity for Filipinos to "ponder on this dark day of our nation's history." "Ultimately, our people's surest and strongest weapon against tyranny must be their collective effort to remember and recognize the past crimes and exact justice from it," Akbayan said on Saturday. "We must not allow a repeat of the dark days of authoritarian rule. As [we] must act decisively to end such attempts to create a new modern tyranny with the same vigor with which we ended the past tyranny of martial law." Also, Akbayan remembered the atrocities of the Martial Law regime of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. "We hope that this somber occasion serves as an opportunity for all Filipinos to ponder on this dark day of our nation's history, to learn the lessons of the past, to remember the atrocities of the Marcos dictatorship, and honor the heroism of those who fought to restore our democracy," the party said. "No amount of rewriting and revisionism can erase the documented scale of atrocities, corruption and abuse perpetrated by the dictator and his regime. However, their campaign of revisionism [is] when we allow ourselves to loosen our grip on our collective memory. This holds true not only for the crime of the past dictator but also for the abuses committed by the previous regime," Akbayan added. Akbayan also pointed out the atrocities of the six years of the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, which led to killings as a result of the controversial "War on Drugs." "The past six years of the Duterte administration unleashed a brazen campaign of extrajudicial killings, corruption, high treason, and abuse of power. While there are efforts to hold him and his conspirators accountable, they are also actively using their machinery of disinformation to sow confusion, to create doubt, and to gaslight our citizens," they said. "Duterte is actively using every tool and tactic for us to forget his administration's often public pronouncements to commit mass murder. He and his allies are now engaged in their own version of historical revisionism. We cannot afford to fall prey to their efforts," they added. With a report from ARIC JOHN SY CUA