Leni to Bongbong: Death toll during martial law not justifiable

MANILA, Philippines - The insurgencies that the Philippine government faced in the 1970s do not justify the declaration of martial law and the abuses that came with it, Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo, vice presidential candidate of the administration Liberal Party, said Monday night.

A panelist at a GoNegosyo candidates' forum at the Manila Polo Club had earlier asked if President Ferdinand Marcos had been right to declare martial law in 1972.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also running for senator, gave his father's reasons for doing so. He said that, at the time, the government was "fighting two wars" against the Moro National Liberation Front and the New People's Army.

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Sen. Bongbong Marcos and Sen. Chiz Escudero sit with the audience before the start of the Go Negosyo vice presidential forum on Monday, March 14, 2016. Philstar.com / Efigenio Toledo IV

"Kaya siguro sa pananaw ng aking ama ay pangangailangan na magkaroon ng martial law para maging mas matibay ang pag-defend ng estado sa gustong pabagsakin ang estado ng iba't ibang grupo," he said.

Robredo pointed, however, to many who were victims of abuse under the Marcos administration.

"Bakit nagkaroon ng napakadaming extrajudicial killings? Bakit ang daming nawala, ang daming namatay, ang daming na-incarcerate dahil lang iba ang kanilang paniniwala?" she said.

The government has been working to educate the youth on martial law and life during the Marcos dictatorship, with an "experiential museum" part of this year's commemoration of the EDSA People Power revolution. 

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In response to a related question, Sen. Francis Escudero, who was also at the forum, said that EDSA should not be about the Aquino and Marcos families, but about the Filipino people.

"Sa akin, 'yung EDSA ay hindi personal kay [Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] or kay [President Benigno Aquino III], ito po ay pagbibigay hustisya sa mga biktima ng martial law," Robredo said.