A number of journalists, celebrities, and social media personalities have slammed incoming Press Secretary Trixie Angeles over her latest remark about Martial Law.
In her latest statement during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 31, Angeles said that even factual events like Martial Law should be open to debate and discourse to fight disinformation.
“Martial Law is a mine in itself…Why don’t we allow a discourse? I think everything should be open to debate, even scientific theories and established facts are always open to question…We don’t have to come to a conclusion. Let us not limit discourse…”
Her statement was met with negative reactions from celebrities and social media personalities.
Pia Magalona, in her tweet, shared concern about Angeles’s statement saying her plan of allowing discourse about Martial law is nowhere near protecting the welfare of the citizens.
“One of the duties of govt is protecting, as far as possible, every member of society from injustice or oppression of every other member of it. This “plan” doesn’t have the WELFARE OF CITIZENS in mind and looks like we now need protecting from them”
https://twitter.com/piamagalona/status/1531537329998790657
Theatre actor Reb Atadero also tweeted, saying this plan on whitewashing Martial Law is their goal from the very start.
“This is exactly what they want to do.”
This is exactly what they want to do. https://t.co/WQaGKZvsVn
— Reb Atadero (@rebranger) May 31, 2022
Blogger Citizen Jane meanwhile slammed Angeles for saying Martial Law should be open for debate. Jane said facts will always be facts and they are not subject to interpretation or debate.
“Like debating whether the earth is flat or round??? NO. A fact can never be anything else but fact. It isn’t subject to interpretation or debate.
https://twitter.com/citizenjaneph/status/1531590391388344321
Journalist Barnaby Lo also scored the incoming PCOO chief saying, the Filipino people have already come to a conclusion in 1986 and that is a nondebatable fact.
“The Filipino people came to a conclusion in 1986. Fact. No debate there.”
The Filipino people came to a conclusion in 1986. Fact. No debate there. https://t.co/LGSew3USs7
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) May 31, 2022
Another journalist Jonathan Santos also shared his reaction. He said if the discourse will result in victim-blaming then it’s a farse.
“If the discourse is “maybe the victims deserved it, who knows?”, salamat na lang”
If the discourse is "maybe the victims deserved it, who knows?", salamat na lang https://t.co/7DEreh58GE
— Jonathan de Santos (@desamting) May 31, 2022
Political analyst Richard Heydarian can’t help but comment also reiterating the facts that Martial Law is nothing but a “governance, economic and human rights DISASTER on so many levels.”
“FYI, there is NOTHING to “debate” on DICTATORSHIP, especially the uber KLEPTOCRATIC kind that produced ZERO world-class industries a la neighboring Taiwan & Korea. FACTS clearly show: IT WAS governance, economic, and human rights DISASTER on so many levels! Period!”
FYI, there is NOTHING to “debate” on DICTATORSHIP, especially the uber KLEPTOCRATIC kind that produced ZERO world class industries a la neighbouring Taiwan & Korea. FACTS clearly show: IT WAS a governance, economic and human rights DISASTER on so many levels! Period!
— Richard Heydarian (@Richeydarian) May 31, 2022
Feisty Kapamilya broadcast journalist Karmina Constantino also commented saying “Facts are immovable. They are the pillars and foundation of a home you’re building. And that home is the continuing story of our nation. A story grounded on facts.”
Facts are immovable.
They are the pillars and foundation of a home you're building. And that home is the continuing story of our nation. A story grounded on facts.
1/3
— Karmina Constantino-Torres (@ConstantKC) May 31, 2022
Another Kapamilya journalist Niko Baua questioned Angeles about what part of Martial Law she wanted to debate.
Baua shared a screenshot of RA 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. The law recognizes the human rights abuses committed during the Martial Law years, and it aims to compensate all the victims.
Which part does she want to debate on? https://t.co/hoMOmB0j6a pic.twitter.com/nQHLRoXkb4
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) May 31, 2022
Angeles was also recently slammed by netizens following her “change of mind” with her stand against the Marcoses.
Previous anti-Marcos tweets of Angeles resurfaced following the announcement of her appointment as the next PCOO Chief.
Here are other comments from the netizens regarding Angeles’ recent statement.
“Facts are immovable. ABS-CBN and its employees are victims of political repression, clearly twice in our history – when the Marcos regime seized the company in 1972, and when the Duterte regime used political maneuvers to deny us to operate with a broadcast franchise in 2020.” @heybrow
Facts are immovable.
ABS-CBN and its employees are victims of political repression, clearly twice in our history – when the Marcos regime seized the company in 1972, and when the Duterte regime used political maneuvers to deny us to operate with a broadcast franchise in 2020. https://t.co/OAl2Xprbza
— H Y R O (@heyrow) May 31, 2022
“I wonder if she also considers the Holocaust as subject to discourse?” @jclem3
I wonder if she also considers the Holocaust as subject to discourse? pic.twitter.com/hLPSsekSpZ
— Jojo Clemente (@jclem3) May 31, 2022
“Ladies and gentleman, our version of Kelly-Anne Conway.” @PJACaytonPhD
Ladies and gentleman, our version of Kelly-Anne Conway. https://t.co/gazUUSLYQY
— Peter Cayton, the Stats Guy (@PJACaytonPhD) May 31, 2022
“My notes on why we shouldn’t discredit history and the truth that is derived from it. Facts are not debatable.” @joshuaCAgar
My notes on why we shouldn’t discredit history and the truth that is derived from it. Facts are not debatable. pic.twitter.com/zfevEA84YW
— Joshua C. Agar (@JoshuaCAgar) May 31, 2022
Audie Gemora tweeted a screenshot of Kristoffer Pasion’s tweet detailing the number of martial law victims that the Marcos family is trying to invalidate.
https://twitter.com/GemoraAudie/status/1531229948819943424
“Discourse na nakaugat sa facts at mga biktima.” @pads_nosi
Discourse na nakaugat sa facts at mga biktima. https://t.co/LpIi11i3N9
— Pari Koy (@pads_nosi) May 31, 2022
“Notice that given the set of established FACTS, *they* obviously FEAR that people, on their own, will come to these facts’ logical conclusion. The challenge for the next 6 yrs: never budge/compromise when it comes to these facts while persuading people to accept these truths.” @indohistorian
Notice that given the set of established FACTS, *they* obviously FEAR that people, on their own, will come to these facts’ logical conclusion.
The challenge for the next 6 yrs: never budge/compromise when it comes to these facts, while persuading people to accept these truths. pic.twitter.com/IuQMdZdgO2
— Kristoffer Pasion (@indiohistorian) May 31, 2022
