Can Aquinos, Marcoses reconcile? It’s not that simple, Palace says

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—It’s not that simple.

That was the response of Malacañang on Thursday on the call of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the reconciliation of the decades-old feud between the Aquino and Marcos families.

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said that based on previous pronouncements of President Benigno Aquino III on the matter, the president views the feud between the two political clans as an issue of seeking justice for the victims of human rights violations committed during the Martial Law under the Marcos administration.

“Kung susuriin natin ang mga pahayag ni Pangulong Aquino, hindi siya sang-ayon doon sa proposisyon na ito ay sa pagitan ng pamilya dahil ang kanyang katugunan ay patungkol sa kahalagahan ng pagkamit ng katarungan para sa mga mamamayan. So ito ay hindi usaping pamilya. Ito ay usapin ng katarungan,” Coloma said in a press briefing.

(If we will analyze the statements given by President Aquino, he is against the said suggestion that this (Aquino-Marcos feud) is a misunderstanding between the two families because he has looked at this as a quest for justice for our countrymen. So this is not a family issue but an issue of seeking justice.)

However, despite the view the President maintains, Coloma said that the relationship between the two families remains civil, citing instances where Aquino met members of the Marcos family in various state functions.

“Sa nakikita ko naman ay wala namang personal na alitan o mga usaping namamagitan on a personal level. Marami na tayong nasaksihang mga okasyon na kung saan ay dumalo sa Palasyo sa mga official functions sina Senator Marcos, former First Lady at Representative, ngayon, Imelda Marcos, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.”

“Marami namang interaction na hindi naman tayo makakaaninag na may personal na alitan sa pagitan ng mga indibidwal na tinutukoy natin,” Coloma added.

(As far as I know, I don’t see any personal conflicts or issues that transpire between the two families. We have seen various occasions where the Senator Marcos, former First Lady and now Representative Imelda Marcos, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos have attended official functions at the palace.

There have been many interactions between these individuals where they do not appear to have any personal rift.)

Senator Marcos in an interview said that the reconciliation between the Aquino and Marcos families will be “good for the country” as the continuing feud sows division among Filipinos.

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