MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday distanced itself on the proposed measure to declare September 11 a holiday in Ilocos Norte to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying President Rodrigo Duterte will respect the decision of Congress on the matter.
“Rerespetuhin po ng Presidente kung anong desisyon ng Kongreso,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said when sought for comment on the bill.
(The President will respect that decision of Congress.)
“Alam niyo naman po bago maging batas ‘yan, dapat pumasa sa Mababang Kapulungan at tsaka sa Senado,” he noted.
(Before that becomes a law, it has to pass the House and the Senate.)
With 197 affirmative votes, 9 negative, and one abstention, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on final reading a bill declaring September as “President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day” in Ilocos Norte.
The bill was authored by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ria Fariñas, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba and Probinsyano Ako Rep. Rudys Caesar Fariñas.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the proposed measure will likely breeze through the Senate, saying a bill of local application “is not really debated upon.”
But several progressive groups thumbed down the bill, saying it just seeks to rewrite the dark history of the Marcos regime.