VP Sara debunks ‘martial law rebranding’ claims vs. DepEd

In a statement, Duterte insisted that the DepEd is not in the “business of erasing” historical facts, particularly those which happened during the martial law period.(Photo by Joey O. Razon via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

MANILA – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte debunked Tuesday claims thrown at the Department of Education (DepEd) for allegedly “rebranding” martial law and revising historical facts.

In a statement, Duterte insisted that the DepEd is not in the “business of erasing” historical facts, particularly those which happened during the martial law period.

“Ang Department of Education — na kasalukuyang abala sa mga programang naglalayong maiangat ang kalidad ng basic education sa Pilipinas — ay walang panahon para sa historical revisionism na pilit na iginigiit ng ilang mga anti-Marcos groups (The DepEd, which is currently busy on programs aimed to raise the quality of basic education in the Philippines, has no time for historical revisionism being insisted by several anti-Marcos groups),” she said.

“Una nang nasabi ng DepEd spokesperson na hindi totoo ang sinasabing rebranding ng ating kasaysayan. At inuulit ko ang sinabi ni Atty. Michael Poa: hindi totoo ang rebranding (The DepEd spokesperson has earlier denied the so-called rebranding of our history. And I’m reiterating what Atty. Michael Poa said, the rebranding is not true),” Duterte added.

The Vice President made the statement after critics slammed the DepEd following the posting of a copy of a learner’s module in Marinduque via social media, showing the use of the term “New Society,” which is being linked to the years of martial law.

“The terms New Society/Bagong Lipunan and martial law are both historical facts. It is a historical fact that New Society refers to the program launched by Former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. during his administration. And it is another historical fact that martial law refers to the 14-year rule of the former President,” Duterte said.

The Vice President said that these terms were already used in DepEd textbooks as early as the 2000s.

Duterte, meanwhile, recalled how as a child she had contributed to the anti-martial law movement in her own small way.

“Bilang bata, hindi ko mabilang ang mga yellow pages sa directory ng telepono na ginupit ko para gawing confetti ng mga Yellow Friday Movement demonstrations sa pangunguna ni Soledad Duterte, ang aking yumaong lola, sa Davao City. Mukhang mas marami tayong ambag sa mga pagkilos laban sa martial law kaysa sa ilang maiingay na anti-Marcos ngayon (As a child, I can no longer count the yellow pages of phone directory cut to be confetti for the Yellow Friday Movement demonstrations, led by my late grandmother Soledad Duterte in Davao City. It seems like we have more contribution to the movement against martial law compared to those noisy anti-Marcos groups nowadays),” she said.

Duterte assured the public that learners are provided with factual discussions on martial law and the EDSA People power revolution.