A Malacañang official on Sunday did not mince words when he slammed vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for supposedly lacking honesty and accountability–two qualities which will make a person trustworthy.
In a statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. hit Marcos for supposedly “glossing over” the horrors brought by the dictatorship of the latter’s father, late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
“Trustworthiness of a person is based on honesty and accountability. Mr. Marcos’ record as a vice presidential candidate shows that he is seriously lacking in both aspects. He continues to paint a rosy picture of what actually happened during martial law and glosses over the oppressive character of the dictatorship,” Coloma said.
He expressed confidence that the electorate will not vote for a candidate who “diverts attention from reality.”
“Should our people trust a candidate who refuses to acknowledge what actually happened and attempts to divert attention from reality? Our Bosses know better and we trust they will decide wisely on election day,” the Palace spokesman added.
Coloma issued the statement days after the country celebrated 30 years after the Edsa People Power revolution toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
In his speech during the Edsa People Power 30th anniversary, President Benigno Aquino III belied claims that the Marcos administration ushered the “golden age” in the country.
“I can’t help but shake my head because there are still those who say that the time of Marcos was the golden age of the Philippines. Perhaps we can call it the golden days of Marcos since after being president for two terms or eight years, he found a way to remain in power,” Aquino said in his speech in Filipino last Thursday.
Administration bets Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo have also repeatedly slammed Marcos for refusing to acknowledge that the Martial Law years were grim times in the nation’s history.
On his part, Marcos said that it is best to leave the assessment of the regime of his father to historians.
“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 was quoted as saying.
The younger Marcos, who is currently tied with Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero in preference polls for first place, said that he is opposed to the idea of martial law being 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. JE
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