THE PHILIPPINES- Marcos and His Patrons

Marcos and His Patrons Ajit Roy THE Permanent People's Tribunal which met at Antwerp in Belgium for five days from October 30 to November 3, 1980, to hear the appeals submitted by the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on behalf of the Filipino and the Bangsa Moro peoples respectively, gave its verdict against the Marcos military dictatorship and its foreign patrons. It also recognised the two liberation movements as "the legitimate representatives of their respective peoples". The Tribunal affirmed that "as a matter of legal right, liberation move- ments, in this case, the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), should enjoy status in international society. They are empowered to enforce the rights of their peoples, by armed struggle, if necessary".