Bongbong: Let historians, not politicians, judge Marcos rule

HISTORIANS, not politicians, should be the ones to make an objective assessment of the rule of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, according to his son, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The younger Marcos was commenting on President Aquino’s call for Filipinos to oppose his bid for the vice presidency and Mr. Aquino’s criticism of his father’s martial law regime.

Mr. Aquino had scoffed at claims that the elder Marcos’ rule represented a “golden age” for the Philippines, pointing out that it was actually a “painful chapter” in the nation’s history, marked by human rights violations and the plunder of the country’s resources.

“Let us leave history to the professors, to those who study the history of the Philippines. It is not our job. Our job is to look at what the people need at present,” Marcos said.

But he also said he would not want martial law to be declared again.

“Oh, God, no! Because if there’s martial law, that means we’re in crisis. We don’t want the Philippines to be in a crisis,” he said.

He said the country’s leaders should focus on giving people solutions to the problems they are facing.

The Philippines’ problems now are different from the ordeals it faced three decades ago, which is why different solutions are needed, he said.

Marcos, who is unapologetic about his father’s dictatorship, also said that despite criticism from Malacañang, he has felt no negative impact on his campaign for the second highest post.

He said he continues to be welcomed warmly in his visits to various communities around the country.

“I am grateful to all who do not get tired of loving me, my family and all that we want to do to help the country,” he said.

A recent voter preference survey for the vice presidency showed Marcos tied with Sen. Francis Escudero for the top spot. Escudero held the lead for several months.

After being exiled in the wake of the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Marcoses have made a political comeback.

The senator’s sister, Imee, is the governor of Ilocos Norte, while their mother, Imelda, is the congressional representative of the province.

Their political victories have been attributed to the reputedly solid Ilocano vote, which includes not just Ilocos Norte, but also the other Ilocano-speaking provinces in Northern Luzon.

The victims of human rights violations during martial law are conducting a campaign to oppose Marcos’ bid for the vice presidency. They have been informing voters of the horrors experienced during the elder Marcos’ regime and contesting what they say has been a distortion of the truth.