The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today said that the deepening probe of former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the bloody “war on drugs,” alongside explosive new disclosures linking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to billions in infrastructure kickbacks, exposes a regime of impunity and plunder that spans successive administrations. “To love the country is to demand for accountability and justice,” according to KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.

Reacting to reports that the ICC have identified Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Bong Go as Duterte’s co-perpetrators in the commission of crimes against humanity in connection with the drug war, KMP said making Duterte, Dela Rosa, Go and others involved in the killings accountable is a top order but it not stop there.

“For farmers and rural communities, the drug war was never about justice. It was about inciting fear, militarization, and the silencing of dissent nationwide,” KMP said. “While the ICC probe is a crucial step towards accountability for the bloodshed, the accountability must not stop with Duterte.”

KMP stressed that while the Duterte camp attempts to evade international scrutiny, the Marcos Jr. administration is now engulfed in its own corruption scandal involving alleged P8 billion in “commitments” or kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

Earlier this week, Makabayan lawmakers disclosed the existence of communication records reportedly showing direct exchanges between Marcos Jr. and former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, nephew of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. The evidence reportedly includes acknowledgements of receipt of billions in kickbacks, detailed allocations for election-related expenses, and records of cash deliveries to a residence in Forbes Park, Makati.

“These revelations are not mere gossip. They match earlier testimonies about P52 billion worth of infrastructure projects and billions in commitments coursed through top officials who conveniently resigned but were never prosecuted,” KMP said.

The group noted that while Duterte faces prosecution at The Hague, Marcos Jr. has so far evaded serious investigation at home despite mounting evidence and the junking of the impeachment complaints.

“This is the same culture of impunity,” KMP added. “Under Duterte, thousands of poor Filipinos were killed in the name of a sham drug war. Under Marcos Jr., billions of public funds meant for infrastructure and public services are allegedly siphoned off for political machinery and electoral campaigns.”

KMP linked these twin crises of human rights abuses and grand corruption to the National Anti-Corruption Assembly being convened today, 14 February. “The Assembly comes at a decisive moment. Gains made in exposing scandals and forcing resignations are now under threat. There are clear moves to whitewash investigations and preserve the pork barrel system and unprogrammed appropriations that have long enabled plunder,” KMP said.

For peasant groups, corruption is unforgiveable. “Every peso stolen from infrastructure kickbacks is a peso taken away from production subsidies, free irrigation, farm support, disaster relief, and climate adaptation for farmers,” KMP stressed. “Every policy of impunity strengthens political dynasties and warlords who terrorize rural communities.”

KMP called for the immediate public release of all evidence related to the reported Marcos kickback scheme and for independent investigations to proceed without political interference. The group also reiterated the need to pursue accountability for Duterte’s drug war killings through both international and domestic mechanisms.

“Impunity breeds impunity. If Duterte can evade responsibility for mass killings, and Marcos Jr. can shrug off evidence of massive corruption, what message does that send to the rest of the government?” KMP asked.

As the country approaches the 40th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising, KMP urged broad unity among anti-corruption and human rights advocates.

“If the Marcos dictatorship was synonymous with plunder and repression, today’s regime is proving no different. Like father, like son,” KMP said. “The fight against corruption and impunity is inseparable from the struggle for land, justice, and genuine democracy.”

KMP called on organizations participating in the National Anti-Corruption Assembly to forge concrete, coordinated actions leading up to February 25, and to demand full accountability from both Duterte and Marcos. ###