UP History Dep’t faculty members slam Bongbong Marcos’ efforts to ‘twist truth’

Member of the University of the Philippines' Department of History slammed Senator Bongbong Marcos’ call to revise history textbooks as an effort to twist the truth and hide the numerous human rights violations during the regime of his father.

Earlier, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' son called for the revision of history textbooks, claiming that their family’s recent court victories prove that the criminal accusations against them are false.

“Isa itong malinaw na pagkutya at pagbabaluktot sa katotohanan. Wala itong ibang layunin kundi ang tuluy-tuloy na pagtakpan ang 'di mabilang na mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao at katiwalian sa ilalim ng diktaduyang Marcos,” UP History professors said in a statement on Friday.

They claimed several historians have long called for a reassessment of textbooks as well, but for a different reason.

“Makailang-ulit na ring nanawagan ang mga historyador para sa malawakang pagsusuri at pagsasaayos ng nilalaman ng mga textbook, para ipakita ang katotohanan sa kasaysayan ng bansa, isa na rito ang kritikal na pagtatasa ng kabataan sa Batas Militar ni [Ferdinand] Marcos.”

The faculty members maintained their call against historical revisionism, adding that the government must hold the Marcoses to account for the billions of dollars that they plundered from the nation’s coffers.

“Paigtingin natin ang matibay na pagtindig laban sa pagbabaluktot sa katotohanan at pagkutya sa alaala ng mga dumanas ng pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao,” they added. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LBG, GMA News