LIGAO CITY, Philippines—Martial law abuses are a real election issue, especially for human rights victims, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas said here on Saturday, contradicting vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier assertion that it was a fabricated “media issue.”
“Perhaps for victims of martial law, this is not only an issue for media,” Roxas told reporters after a campaign rally here with his running mate Leni Robredo.
“They were the ones who were personally hurt, and many people who were not physically hurt still lost years [of their lives] because of martial law,” Roxas said.
He said the country itself lost years to martial law, including Filipinos who were forced to go abroad. “For our people, martial law is a real issue,” he said.
Marcos has been criticized by victims of martial law and their survivors for downplaying the atrocities committed during the dictatorship of his father, President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
During the LP sortie in Tabaco City, human rights lawyer and former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Filipinos should not vote for candidates like Bongbong Marcos and others who benefited from martial law.
Lagman, a former five-term member of the House representing the first district of Albay, is seeking election again.
He is the brother of Hermon Lagman, a political activist who disappeared during the martial law regime. His older brother Filemon “Popoy” Lagman, founder of the Partido ng Manggagawa, was killed in 2001 during the Arroyo administration it was believed by former comrades in the communist movement.
Reproductive health
Edcel served as minority floor leader in the House of Representatives until 2012 when he resigned over differences with the Aquino administration. He was the main proponent of the Reproductive Health Bill.
“I think the people should reject all those who benefited from martial law, up to now,” Lagman told reporters.
Pressed to elaborate, he admitted his remark was aimed at “a particular person, the son of the late dictator,” although he did not mention the younger Marcos by name.
Lagman added that his words could also be construed as an “omnibus statement” directed at all those who rose to power and wealth during the martial law years.
“There is no reason why we should elect people who are identified with martial law, which brought so much sacrifice and abuse to the Filipino people,” he said.
In his speech at the LP rally, Lagman told the audience: “Let us not vote for those who benefited under martial law, like this one who’s now running for vice president.”
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