Bongbong mum on ‘eye for an eye’

MANILA, Philippines – The only son and namesake of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos yesterday refused to comment on President Aquino’s statement of wanting to exact revenge for the murder of his father 31 years ago.

“Of course that is his feeling. That is not for me to comment on,” Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said yesterday.

“In politics, there are issues that you have to agree upon. I don’t feel that way,” he said.

Aquino admitted on Monday that he had wanted to exact revenge on then President Marcos for the murder of his father, the former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Aug. 21, 1983.

“As the only son, I felt an overwhelming urge to exact an eye for an eye. Mr. Marcos and his ilk were like rabid dogs that had lost all reason,” Aquino said in a speech delivered in Boston College.

“There was no longer any potential for dialogue; the only solution when confronted by a rabid dog is to put it down,” he added.

Aquino, who was 23 years old when his father was killed, said he could still remember the oppression his family suffered under the Marcos dictatorship.

“I knew that (Marcos) was a formidable foe, but regardless of this, in those moments, all I wanted was to do to Marcos as he had done unto us,” he said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino cannot be blamed for wanting to seek revenge for the assassination of his father.

Lacierda said the assassination of the elder Aquino was a “difficult ordeal” for the President, but it has not affected the way he governs the country.

“You can’t take it away from the President as an ordinary human being. His father was brutally murdered. If this happens to anyone of us, we will experience the rage,” Lacierda said.

“If your relative was brutally murdered, you would feel the same. He mentioned that he tried to devoid his speeches of emotionalism. It is very clear that he is governing the country as an objective politician,” he added.

Despite the painful experience, Lacierda said finding the mastermind of the murder of his father was not among Aquino’s priorities when he assumed the presidency.

“He has other priorities. There are other priorities. The number one priority is to govern the country and make sure he improves the lives of all Filipinos,” Lacierda said.

“From a governance point of view, from any perspective, his focus is on governance,” he added.

Nothing personal

Malacañang said there is nothing personal with Aquino’s refusal to provide military honors to Marcos.

Lacierda said the decision was a product of consultations with victims of human rights abuses and other stakeholders.

“It was not borne out of a personal reason,” he said.

Lacierda reiterated the President’s stand on the issue has not changed.

“The President has made a decision. What the Marcoses would like to do with former President Marcos is up to them, but as to the issue of being buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani, that has been well discussed and fairly discussed few years back,” he said. “As far as were concerned, the issue is closed.”

When asked whether the Aquino family will oppose any effort by the next administration to give Marcos a hero’s burial, Lacierda said he cannot comment on what the next administration would do.

Marcos was ousted through a popular revolt in 1986 after a 20-year presidency. He died of kidney, heart and lung ailments on Sept. 28, 1989 while in exile in Honolulu, Hawaii. His remains were returned to the Philippines in 1993.

Some lawmakers believe Marcos deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as a former president and as someone who has not been convicted of any crime.

Aquino has rejected calls to give Marcos a hero’s burial, saying it would be an injustice to the many victims of martial law. – Alexis Romero