Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/RYAN LEAGOGO
In an effort to distance himself from the dark years of martial law, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is running for Vice President in next year’s elections, wants to veer away from his father’s kind of leadership.
“I no longer think like that. I no longer think about what my father has done and what he has not done,” said Marcos when asked during a weekly forum at the Senate what he has picked from his father and namesake’s 20-year rule.
“Whatever he has done or has failed to do really does not come to it because we live in a different world now,” Marcos said.
Marcos, who is teaming up with presidential contender Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, said the solutions for the country’s problems must be different now from how it was before.
“The problems that we face may be the same, but the solutions will have to be different because we live in a different world under a different political and economic system. There’s no purpose in trying to compare,” he said.
Marcos said the country must move on from what happened 40 years ago and “look at the problems of today in light of today.”
“The whole point is to move forward,” he said, referring to the country’s dark past when his late dictator father declared martial law and excesses and human rights abuses took place.
No sooner had the Edsa Revolution toppled the dictatorship in 1986 than the Marcoses—Bongbong, his sister Imee and mother former First Lady Imelda—have returned to power, holding key elective posts.
Imee is the current governor of Ilocos Norte and Imelda is the representative of Ilocos Norte’s second district.
Earlier, Marcos said their recent election showed that the Marcoses have been vindicated by the people.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he and Senator Santiago are still in process of finalizing the “nuts and bolts of their campaign,” including their senatorial lineup.
He said Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are already in their senatorial slate while they are still wooing boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to join their team.
Asked what their campaign slogan would be, Marcos said in jest: “High blood sa mahina (High blood on inept people).”
“Senator Miriam and I are alike. Our blood pressures always shoot up whenever we see ineptitude and stupidity in the government,” he said.
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