Usage Note
Salvage carries a chilling inverted meaning in Philippine English and Filipino — it refers to extrajudicial killing, often by authorities or vigilante groups. This semantic shift likely arose during the Marcos martial law era, making it a stark feature of Philippine political language and human rights discourse.
Examples
" Sinalvage daw ang lalaki. "
Natural Translation
They say the man was summarily executed.
Literal Translation
Was-summarily-executed reportedly the man.
" Nakita nila ang salvage na biktima. "
Natural Translation
They saw the summarily executed victim.
Literal Translation
Saw they the salvage that victim.
" Maraming biktima noong panahon ng batas militar ang sinalvage at ang mga pamilya nila ay hindi kailanman nakahanap ng katarungan. "
Natural Translation
Many victims during the martial law period were summarily executed, and their families never found justice.
Literal Translation
Many victim during time of martial law were-summarily-executed and the families their never found of justice.
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