Marcos warned:Do not sacrifice accountability for political peace
Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares has warned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against offering reconciliation with the Dutertes, saying that this signalled that “accountability is negotiable under his administration.” —Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares has warned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against offering reconciliation with the Dutertes, saying that this signalled that “accountability is negotiable under his administration.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Colmenares said that Marcos’ softer stance on the Dutertes might be taken advantage of by the family, and might embolden its members in politics to consolidate power and “eliminate the Marcoses come 2028.”
According to Colmenares, for the President to open reconciliation with the Dutertes also betrays public interest, as people want justice and accountability.
“Ang pagbukas ni Pangulong Marcos sa pakikipagkasundo sa mga Duterte ay malinaw na pagtataksil sa interes ng mamamayang Pilipino na naghahangad ng hustisya at pananagutan. This sends a dangerous signal that accountability is negotiable under his administration, a betrayal of the people’s demand for justice,” Colmenares said.
(President Marcos’ opening doors to reconciliation with the Dutertes is a clear betrayal of the Filipino people’s interests, as they yearn for justice and accountability.)
“If Marcos Jr. continues to turn a blind eye to the need for accountability, he risks emboldening the Dutertes further. This could very well be the signal they are waiting for to consolidate power and politically eliminate the Marcoses come 2028. That would not just be a political contest — it could turn into a bloodbath,” he added.
According to Colmenares, justice and accountability must not be sacrificed for political peace.
“Ang hustisya at pananagutan ay hindi dapat isinasakripisyo para lamang sa katahimikan sa pulitika. Without justice, there can be no genuine peace. In fact, kahit lumuhod si Pres. Marcos sa mga Duterte hindi nya rin masisiguro na maipanalo nya ang kandidato nya sa pagkapresidente sa 2028,” he said.
(Justice and accountability should not be sacrificed for the sake of political peace. Without justice, there can be no genuine peace. Even if President Marcos kneels in front of the Dutertes, he cannot assure the win of his candidates for president in 2028.)
“The Filipino people deserve a government that upholds accountability and the rule of law, not one that cowers in fear of political allies turned adversaries,” he added.
In the first episode of his podcast, which was released on Monday, Marcos said that he is willing to make peace with the Dutertes, adding that what he wants is to “get along with everyone.”
READ: Does Marcos want to make peace with Dutertes? ‘Yes, I don’t like conflicts’
Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte — daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte — used to be allies, running under the Uniteam umbrella during the 2022 presidential race. But their ties went downhill after the vice president resigned from the administration party, as well as her post as education secretary.
Several Congressional investigations were launched against the vice president, including findings of alleged irregularities in how her office and the Department of Education allocated their confidential funding allocations.
These findings, along with Duterte’s statements that she has talked to someone about killing Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she gets killed, eventually led to the filing of impeachment complaints against her, and the House decision to impeach her.
READ: House impeaches Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
Colmenares said if the President “would not face this issue courageously, he will not only be called a weak leader, but he will also be treated as an accomplice to the obstruction of justice for the benefit of a few in power.”
“Ang laban para sa hustisya at pananagutan ay laban ng sambayanang Pilipino. Huwag tayong magpalinlang sa mga pagtatangka ng mga nasa kapangyarihan na gawing normal ang kawalang pananagutan,” he added.
(The fight for justice and accountability is the fight of the entire Filipino people. Let us not be deceived by attempts by those in power to make the lack of accountability normal.)
Other lawmakers believe that Marcos’ actions were just borne out of his personality as a well-mannered individual. Earlier, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora said that Marcos’ recent statements are something that can be expected of a “dignified person.”
READ: Solon hails Marcos’ move to reach out, reconcile with Duterte
“I believe that the President is a very amiable, polite, and level-headed person. He is not vengeful and is always dignified. That he is open to reconciling with the Duterte family is something that we should expect from him,” Zamora said in a statement.
