Miriam Santiago: Give Bongbong Marcos a chance to redeem himself

There is no prima facie evidence that Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. killed or harmed people during martial law. He was, after all, still a small boy during that time.

This was how Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago defended her running-mate in a presidential forum on Tuesday, urging critics to give Marcos a chance.

“I have not known or seen any prima facie evidence… that Bongbong killed someone or raped someone or burned a house or in other words violated any provision of the Penal Code,” said Santiago during the forum at the 41st Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

“Wala akong alam na krimen na gawa niya ang pagkakatanda ko. Noong martial law pinapakita si Bonbong maliit pa siyang bata kasama ang mga magulang niya,” she added.

(I don’t remember him committing any crime. During the time of the martial law, he was shown as a small boy with his parents.)

Santiago drew criticisms for choosing the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ son as her running mate in 2016.

READ: Miriam Santiago admits Bongbong Marcos team-up ‘strange’ | Miriam Santiago defends choice of Bongbong Marcos as VP

The 70-year-old senator, who was a regional trial court judge at the time of martial law, has a strong stance on human rights and corruption.

Santiago said the people cannot fault Marcos for the mistakes of his father because that would be going against a rule in the Catholic bible.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: My family is ‘exceptional’

“Wala namang proof na siya mismo ang gumawa ng sala (There is no proof that he himself committed a crime) so I have no basis for condemning him,” said the senator, adding that she did not team up with Marcos to defend him.

If the people’s fear that Marcos would resort to corruption would be proven true, Santiago said she herself would make sure Marcos would be punished.

“If the other side turns out to be the case, then let us take proper steps to ensure he’s punished accordingly. But we can’t punish on the basis of suspicion,” she said.

“This man is trying to redeem himself. Let’s give him a chance,” Santiago added.  IDL

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