Past is past, Bongbong says of dark Marcos years

Philippine Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrives for a media forum Wednesday, Oct.7, 2015, two days after announcing he is seeking the nation’s second highest office in next year’s national elections, at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. AP File Photo

SEN. FERDINAND “Bongbong” Marcos on Wednesday said he has been answering questions put to him about the dark period in the country’s when his father ruled unopposed, and was prepared to continue to do the same as he seeks the vice presidency.

“I am looking towards the future. The past is the past,” Marcos said in Filipino in an interview with a morning television show.

Marcos, who is the vice presidential running mate of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago,  was asked how he would handle questions on the campaign trail concerning the years that his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, ruled the country with an iron fist.

Marcos, whose father was ousted in the 1986 people power uprising, said he had been answering those questions for the past 30 years and would be surprised if these will not be asked of him now.

“But we are prepared to answer these. Any questions. But we are giving more attention on what the people are really thinking and concerned about,” he also said.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: My family is ‘exceptional’ | The luck of Bongbong Marcos

Asked whether he has something to apologize for or explain about the martial law years, he replied by saying people he meets did not ask him such questions as they wanted to find out more about how he could help the country improve.

He stressed that his concern was not about “historical analysis” but more on how he could serve the people.

Marcos, who was formerly governor of Ilocos Norte, said he believes going back to the executive branch suited him better as this would enable him to provide service straight to the people.

He also said his vast experience in government as a governor and as a legislator would help him in serving the people as Vice President.

Marcos also insisted that the “Solid North” remains to be intact as shown when he ran and won a seat in the Senate in 2010.

Meanwhile, former senator Kit Tatad on Wednesday said that if only Marcos had run for President it would have been his opportunity to put “closure” and clear the issues surrounding his family and the Aquinos.

“He should’ve run for President so that there can be closure [on the issue of] Marcos vs Aquino. Who among the two camps are telling the country the truth?” said Tatad.