Demand release for the ‘Tacloban 5’
TACLOBAN CITY – Defying threats of red-tagging and possible arrests, activists gathered at the Redemptorist Church on the morning of Friday, September 21, to mark the 52nd anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines.
Dressed in black and holding placards bearing the message “No to Martial Law,” they stood in solemn protest, commemorating a dark chapter in the nation’s history.
Some participants lit candles while offering silent prayers, while others raised clenched fists, a gesture symbolizing their determination and resistance.
Among the protesters was Kyle Domequil, a University of the Philippines (UP) Tacloban student and sister of political prisoner Maye Domequil.
In an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, Domequil shared that she attended the rally to call for her sister’s release and to demand justice for the “Tacloban 5,” a group arrested in February 2020.
The so-called Tacloban 5, composed of Domequil, Frenchie Cumpio, Marissa Cabaljao, Mira Legion, and Alexander Abinguna were reportedly members of different activist groups and are in detention for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Domequil, during the program, spoke of her family’s suffering, comparing their experience to the stories of oppression during the Martial Law era under Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“It reminds me of the enforced disappearances, torture, and widespread fear people faced during that time,” Domequil said.
She also expressed her commitment to prevent the return of tyranny in Eastern Visayas.
“We will not be silenced. We will not cower in the face of oppression. Instead, we will raise our voices in protest, our defiance echoing through the halls of power, shaking the foundations of those who seek to control us,” Domequil declared passionately.
Meanwhile, Carl John Bocala, a councilor of the UP Tacloban Student Council, emphasized the importance of rallying the youth to speak up.
“Silence is not an option when our country is facing critical issues. We must show our fellow young people that their voices matter,” Bocala said, urging others to overcome fear and confront injustice.
The rally on September 21 was the second of its kind held outside the UP Tacloban campus in recent months. In August, several participants were arrested during a protest held at the 57th General Assembly of Student Councils, underscoring the tense atmosphere surrounding student activism in the city.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
