Ferdinand Marcos should stop being blamed for the Philippines’ woes, the
late dictator’s son said Friday as he criticised subsequent leaders for
doing little to improve the lives of Filipinos.
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, a senator with presidential aspirations, let rip on his Facebook page as President Benigno Aquino prepared to lead a rally Saturday to mark a bloodless “people power” uprising that toppled Marcos Snr in 1986.
“China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia can all point to the progress they have made these last 26 years but unfortunately, for the majority of our people, nothing much has changed today,” Marcos Jnr said.
“Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the hungry. Excuses cannot substitute for performance and results.” Marcos Jnr acknowledged he was unable to pass impartial judgment on the uprising that ended his father’s 20-year rule and forced his family into US exile, but said his political foes also promoted only their version of history.
“Most of what we hear now from all sides are still within the ambit of propaganda. But I certainly am concerned with the state of our country today,” he said. Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino, famously led the “people power” uprising after reluctantly taking the pro-democracy leadership baton from her husband when he was murdered at Manila’s airport in 1984.
She served as president for six years, between 1986 and 1992, and earnt a reputation as a leader with strong personal integrity. Benigno Aquino scored a landslide victory in the 2010 presidential elections when he capitalised on the immense public support for his late mother, and vowed to continue her agenda of fighting corruption.
The incumbent blames a culture of corruption in past administrations for widespread poverty in the Philippines. But while Benigno Aquino enjoys widespread support because of his parents, so too does Marcos Jnr.
He easily won a senate seat in the 2010 elections and has said publicly he may seek to emulate his father and lead the Philippines. His sister, Imee, was also elected governor of Ilocos Norte province, the family’s political stronghold, while their famous mother, Imelda, won a seat in the lower house of parliament at the age of 80.
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, a senator with presidential aspirations, let rip on his Facebook page as President Benigno Aquino prepared to lead a rally Saturday to mark a bloodless “people power” uprising that toppled Marcos Snr in 1986.
“China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia can all point to the progress they have made these last 26 years but unfortunately, for the majority of our people, nothing much has changed today,” Marcos Jnr said.
“Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the hungry. Excuses cannot substitute for performance and results.” Marcos Jnr acknowledged he was unable to pass impartial judgment on the uprising that ended his father’s 20-year rule and forced his family into US exile, but said his political foes also promoted only their version of history.
“Most of what we hear now from all sides are still within the ambit of propaganda. But I certainly am concerned with the state of our country today,” he said. Aquino’s mother, Corazon Aquino, famously led the “people power” uprising after reluctantly taking the pro-democracy leadership baton from her husband when he was murdered at Manila’s airport in 1984.
She served as president for six years, between 1986 and 1992, and earnt a reputation as a leader with strong personal integrity. Benigno Aquino scored a landslide victory in the 2010 presidential elections when he capitalised on the immense public support for his late mother, and vowed to continue her agenda of fighting corruption.
The incumbent blames a culture of corruption in past administrations for widespread poverty in the Philippines. But while Benigno Aquino enjoys widespread support because of his parents, so too does Marcos Jnr.
He easily won a senate seat in the 2010 elections and has said publicly he may seek to emulate his father and lead the Philippines. His sister, Imee, was also elected governor of Ilocos Norte province, the family’s political stronghold, while their famous mother, Imelda, won a seat in the lower house of parliament at the age of 80.
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