Duterte’s introduction of Marcos as VP troubling–Senator Aquino

Bacolod City—Sen. Bam Aquino said on Thursday that President Duterte’s introduction of former Sen.  Bongbong Marcos to the Filipino community in Beijing, China, as the next vice president was “troubling” and should be viewed as a clear “call for action.”

“Personally as somebody who supported the Vice President [Leni Robredo], it’s very troubling to me that that is the way he introduced him,” Aquino said.

“I don’t know, maybe they will say again that President Duterte was just joking,” Aquino added.

Aquino said the recount of votes in the vice presidential race should be watched closely, to prevent her victory being stolen from Robredo, who beat Marcos by a narrow margin of just over 200,000 votes.

‘Call for action’

“I think it’s a call for all of us to be vigilant. In fact, it seems people have forgotten that there is a protest, but maybe that’s a call to action for us to look at it more thoroughly,” he said.

President Duterte introduced Marcos as his second in command during a speech in the Chinese capital of Beijing, where he is on a state visit. Marcos, who was accompanied by sister Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, joined the President on the stage, and the President’s introduction was warmly received by the crowd.

“Bongbong could be our new vice president if he wins his protest,” said Mr. Duterte, who recently revealed he received campaign funds from Imee Marcos.

Mr. Duterte has been a staunch supporter of the Marcos family, and has been pushing for a hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose body lies in a glass crypt in Ilocos Norte.

Divisive issue

Activists who were jailed and tortured during martial law have petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the burial, in a divisive issue nearly 30 years since the strongman died.

“I am hopeful that they will make the right decision and decide not to bury former President Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani,” said Aquino, who said that several other senators were also opposed to idea.

Reforms implemented

Asked how he would rate the President’s performance in his first 100 days, Aquino admitted the Duterte administration had implemented many reforms.

But he voiced concerns about the deaths of suspected drug addicts and dealers in the hands of vigilantes and Mr. Duterte’s troubling foreign policy pronouncements.