Media Quote
Responding to the interview of Presidential candidate, Bongbong Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, about Amnesty reports on martial law, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director, Butch Olano, said:
“Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no regard whatsoever for the victims of martial law. His interview shows how much he undermines the people who experienced human rights violations during his father’s dictatorship. The nine-year military rule ordered by Marcos in 1972 unleashed a wave arbitrary arrests and detention. Tens of thousand of Filipinos were tortured, forcibly disappeared and killed from 1972 to 1981. These numbers were documented by the government’s own Human Rights Victims Claims Board. Anyone running for President who says they do not know how public information on human rights violations during martial law were generated is blatantly denying history. This makes us question the kind of leadership they offer to bring to Malacañan.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no regard whatsoever for the victims of martial law. His interview shows how much he undermines the people who experienced human rights violations during his father’s dictatorship.
“Amnesty International Philippines will formally furnish Mr. Marcos copies of the reports published in the 70s and 80s. We urge him to acknowledge the atrocities committed under martial law as written in our reports, condemn the actions of his father’s regime, show remorse and publicly apologize to the victims, their families and the entire nation. As a Presidential candidate he must prove his willingness to bring about justice by making it clear in his platform how he plans to address impunity in the country. This is the bare minimum for him, the Filipino people deserves no less.”
Background
On 25 January, in a one-on-one interview with Boy Abunda published on Philippine Star, where Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. shared his campaign platform and stand on pressing issues in the country, he was asked about Amnesty International’s reports on martial law in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Marcos said to ask Amnesty International to share the information on martial which may help “make sure the system works and alleged abuses will not occur again”.