The fifty second year since the declaration of Martial Law was met with protests by various groups both in the Philippines and abroad. According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) who led the mobilizations, the same conditions of human rights abuses and political repression during Martial Law days persist under the current administration.

“We mark this year’s anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law with continued outrage over the persistent violations of human rights, civil liberties and international humanitarian law under the current regime of his son Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Bayan in a statement.

Bayan pointed to continuing atrocities committed through fascist machineries such as the NTF-Elcac, the Anti-Terrorism Act and the brutal police and military repression as well as bombings in the countryside. Bayan further stressed the complicity of “political and economic elites supported by the US government.”

In Metro Manila, groups led by Bayan marched from España to Mendiola with the slogan “Fight terrorism.” There was tension between the rallyists and the police when the protest was blocked before reaching Mendiola. Activists from Southern Tagalog attended. Protests were also organized in Bacolod City, Baguio City, Bicol, Cebu, Davao City, Iloilo, Laguna, and Tacloban.

“The abduction and continued disappearance of many activists call attention to this pattern of impunity,” Bayan emphasized.

Filipino American activists meanwhile held the “Never Again to Martial Law National Day of Action” that called on all allied organizations of Bayan USA, Malaya Movement and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines to mark the 52nd anniversary of Martial Law with protests. Actions were held in Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

In a statement, the organizers denounced continued human rights violations and abductions in the Philippines and the Philippine government’s 2025 proposed national budget, “which would increase defense spending by 50 percent and slash much-needed social services amid growing economic crisis and state neglect.”.