 During Martial Law, Atienza was arrested twice for exposing human rights abuses under the dictatorship regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos at that time.He remained with the opposition even if he was on constant threat of incarceration for opposing Marcos.Atienza was first elected as Member of Parliament in the then At-large Congressional District of Manila (then encompassing the districts of Paco, Pandacan, San Andres Bukid, Sta.