Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos answers questions from reporters in a Quezon City forum on Friday (Photo from Gabriel Pabico Lalu)
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos has explained that she never asked people to forget what happened before, claiming that people should instead learn from it.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na kalimutan ‘yong nakaraan, kung hindi ang ating sinasaad eh, ‘yong kasaysayan ang pinakamahusay na guro,” Marcos said during a forum in Quezon City on Friday.
“Kailangang matutunan natin ang pagkakamali, marami tayong kapalpakan, at mga sinayang na pagkakataon na sana umunlad ang ating bansa, sana sa kabila ng pagnanais natin talagang umusad, ay talagang dibdibin natin ang mga natutunan nating pagkakamali ng nakaraan,” she added.
However, Marcos remained firm on her previous statement that Filipinos must move on from issues about their family, claiming there are more pressing and more relevant concerns today.
“Siguro dapat mas pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga bagong isyu katulad ng mataas na bilihin, at ‘yong mga pangunahing pagkain,” Marcos asked.
“Hindi na ‘yong mga issue na napaka-luma na, at hindi na makabuluhan sa panahon ngayon,” she added.
As several Filipinos were commemorating the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, the Ilocos Norte executive claimed that most Filipinos, including millennials, have already moved on with issue.
“The millennials have moved on, and I think people at my age should also move on as well,” she previously said.
Aquino was killed in 1983 while Marcos’ father, late strongman former President Ferdinand Marcos was still in power. /muf
READ: Imee Marcos asks Filipinos criticizing her family: Why don’t you move on?
Critics of the Marcos family, including lawmakers and youth groups, have denounced her statement, saying that they would only move on when her family is held accountable.
Marcos appeared frustrated after she was asked the same questions over and over again by reporters.
“Bakit ‘yon pa rin ang issue? Nakakahapo na,” she said in jest.
In the same forum a week ago, Marcos’ brother former Senator Bongbong Marcos said that he understands the frustration, as he was also asked, for more than a ‘thousand times’
“This is a question that I have been answering for over 30 years. I have answered the question a thousand times, my answer does not change,” he explained. /muf
READ: Ex-Senator Marcos says issues on father’s rule already done