PNoy says Bongbong might follow father's footsteps
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday expressed his concern that Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. might be a dictator like his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos.
During his speech at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, Aquino cited Marcos Jr.'s refusal to apologize for his father's wrongdoings.
Aquino, however, noted that Marcos Jr. should no be blamed for the human rights violations that occurred during the term of his father.
"Pero ang masakit: ‘Yun pong kadugo ng diktador, sa mahabang panahon ay puwede namang sinabing, 'Nagkamali ang aking ama' o 'Nagkamali kami; bigyan n’yo kami ng pagkakataong iwasto ito.' Pero isipin na lang po ninyo, ito ang tahasang naging pagsagot niya, 'I am ready to say sorry if I knew what I have to be sorry for," Aquino said.
READ: Aquino: Marcos regime not the golden age
The president added that Marcos Jr. might repeat the mistakes of his family if he is not willing to acknowledge it.
"Ang akin nga, thank you na lang, dahil kahit papaano nagpakatotoo ka sa pagpapakitang handa kang tularan ang iyong ama," the president said.
Aquino also expressed his disappointment that the recent ratings of Marcos Jr., a vice presidential aspirant, have been rising in various pre-election surveys.
"Ngayon po, kung tama ang ilang mga survey na nagsasabing dumarami ang sumusuporta sa anak ng diktador na hindi kayang makita ang pagkakamali ng nakaraan, ang ibig po bang sabihin ay nalimot na natin ang sinabing, 'Tama na, sobra na, palitan na,'?" Aquino said.
The president also stressed that the Marcos regime was not the Philippines' "golden age" as the national government's debt increased while the dictator was in office.
He recalled how his father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., was imprisoned in Camp Crame and Fort Bonifacio and was later on transferred to solitary confinement in Nueva Ecija during martial law.
"Hayagan kong sinasabi ngayon, bilang bahagi ng henerasyong pinagdusa ng diktadurya: Hindi golden age ang panahon ni Ginoong Marcos. Isa itong napakasakit na yugto ng ating kasaysayan," the president said.
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