KBL-PMM to go after government executives tagged in martial law abuses

MANILA, Philippines - The newly formed Kilusang Bagong Lipunan-Partido Manggagawa at Magsasaka (KBL-PMM) coalition will seek the accountability of military men and private individuals tagged as human rights violators during martial law and are now occupying sensitive posts in the government and private sectors.

KBL-PMM spokesman Oliver Lozano said the group, during the campaign period, will include in its political platform the creation of a fact-finding body that will review human rights abuses committed by the police and military and file charges against those involved.

Two of the most prominent names the group mentioned are detained Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile and former President Fidel Ramos.

Lozano said at least 10,000 victims of human rights violations during martial law were already compensated but the perpetrators remain scot-free.

“Who were responsible for the violations? If the victims were compensated, then the perpetrators must also be brought to the bar of justice,” he stressed.

Jose Malvar Villegas, PMM president, said after the EDSA revolution, the martial law implementors continued to serve in the police and military, with some of them becoming virtually untouchable because they occupied top government posts.

Villegas added that human rights abuses continued even after Marcos was ousted because the police and military men who served him were the same officers who remained embedded in the post-martial law government.

Lozano said the abuse cases should be re-opened and pursued against the perpetrators and that these should be prevented from happening again.