President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and former president Ferdinand Marcos. AFP FILE PHOTOS
A Palace official on Thursday said it was “uncalled for” that former Senator Rene Saguisag described President Rodrigo Duterte as the “new Macoy,” referring to former president Ferdinand Marcos.
“I think, the comparison is too broad and uncalled for,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters in a Palace briefing.
In a television interview, Saguisag lamented how the Duterte administration chose to hold a simpler commemoration of the 31st Edsa People Power Revolution on Friday.
Malacañang earlier said the government would hold “a simple and quiet” commemoration of the Edsa revolution, saying it was “time to move on from merely celebrating the past.”
READ: Palace on ‘simple, quiet’ Edsa celebration: Time to move on
“To me, as one who played a role… nakalulungkot dahil that was one bright shining moment na we shocked and awed the whole world. Bakit ganun, babaliwalain? Pero karapatan nila ‘yon dahil itong si Digong (Duterte), bagong Macoy ito eh.”
(I’m saddened because that was one bright shining moment where we shocked and awed the whole world. Why will it be disregarded? But it’s their right because Duterte is the new Marcos.)
Abella said holding a simple celebration was not “downgrading” the essence of the commemoration.
“It simply is a different style. You know, different strokes, different folks,” he said.
“Senator Saguisag has emotional ties to these things. We are not downgrading that. I am just saying that he also feels strongly and perhaps he wants it to be some more grandiose way,” he added.
The Palace official said Duterte would not attend the Edsa rites at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City but would instead attend the the launch of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in Davao City.
“But I think he has some sort of a surprise,” he said.
READ: Duterte not likely to attend Edsa commemoration rites
The President had received criticisms when he favored the burial of former president Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, thirty years after he was ousted from power through the Edsa revolution. JE