Makabayan senatorial bet and Bayan Muna Chair Neri Colmenares challenged on Thursday Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos to a debate after she downplayed the human-rights violations during martial law as mere “political accusations.”
“Nagulat talaga ako nung sinabi ni Governor Imee Marcos na ang nangyari na plunder at human rights violations ay political accusations lang. Parang ni-reduce nya ang lahat ng mga human rights violations victims na mga sinungaling,” Colmenares said in a press conference at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center, in Quezon City.
(I was really surprised when Governor Imee Marcos said that the plunder and human-rights violations are mere political accusations. It was like the human-rights violation victims were reduced to being liars.)
“Tindigan mo ang iyong sinabi, mag-debate tayo sa Plaza Miranda,” the progressive former lawmaker told Marcos.
(Stood for what you have said, let’s debate at the Plaza Miranda.)
READ: Imee says HR abuses during father’s rule are just ‘political accusations’
A victim of human-rights violations himself, Colmenares recounted how he was tortured and imprisoned for four years during the reign of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
“I was tortured and imprisoned for four years during martial rule for merely espousing the return of student councils,” he said in an earlier statement.
“That is an insult to the Filipino people. Malinaw ang husga ng kasaysayan na ang gobyernong Marcos ay human-rights violator at magnanakaw [It is clear that history judged the government under Marcos was human-rights violator and thief],” he added.
Colmenares also cited the Republic Act No. 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 which allocated funds for the victims of human-rights violations during the Marcos’ dictatorship.
The younger Marcos earlier insisted that the Marcos family won’t admit something that they did not commit, referring to his father’s record for human-rights violations during the military rule.
She said this shortly after filing her certificate of candidacy for senator at the Commission on Elections on Tuesday.
“Bakit kami mag-aadmit sa hindi namin ginawa? [Why would we admit guilt over something we did not do]?” she said.
“As we all know, these are political accusations that have not been proven in court,” she added. /jpv