Imee: Nothing wrong when Duterte says Marcoses make ideal presidents

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos sees nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte’s frequent mentioning of two Marcoses  — her brother former Senator Bongbong Marcos and their father former President Ferdinand Marcos — when he talks of ideal presidents.

According to her, it only reflects that the president wants “someone else,” not the incumbent Vice President, to lead the country if ever he steps down from office.

“It’s (Duterte’s endorsement) is also an endorsement of the Escudero family, the Cayetano family, it’s very clear that the president would prefer someone else, that’s all,” Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview after a forum on Friday.

“It’s the president’s opinion and I think you’ve heard it time and again,” she said.

She also speculated that Duterte does not really idolize his father, rather, the President only considers the Marcos patriarch’s achievements being a fellow lawyer-turned-president.

“Hindi naman niya sinasabing idol, he just refers to him from time to time as lawyers are ought to do, kasi abugado siya eh, syempre you always refer to precedent, to what was written in the past,” Marcos explained.

“I think as a question of revering someone, it’s just a practical matter for lawyers,” she added.

On Thursday, the President again floated the possibility of him resigning but only if a dictator in the mold of the late President Ferdinand Marcos would replace him.

Previously, President Duterte said he would prefer either former Senator Bongbong Marcos or Senator Francis Escudero, or even a military junta to take over the government, but not Vice President Leni Robredo because Naga, her hometown, is a “hotbed of shabu”.

READ: Duterte: PH better off with dictator like Marcos than leader like Robredo

Duterte to step down if Bongbong Marcos, Chiz Escudero would replace him

Earlier on Friday, Robredo suggested that President Duterte should focus his attention on nation-building and unifying Filipinos, instead of glorifying a ‘dictator’.   /vvp

READ: Robredo: Better if Duterte will use podium, power to address PH problems