CLARK, PAMPANGA — To avoid the possible return of a dictatorial regime, President Aquino has pledged to thwart the return of the Marcoses into national power.
The President expressed concern that Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. might repeat the mistakes of his father especially after adopting the same campaign slogan, “I will make this country great again.”
Marcos, son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, continued to lead race for vice president based on recent opinion polls. Aquino’s preferred VP candidate, Leni Robredo, is inching closer to the top spot.
“Ako naman ho baka sabihin niyo bias, napapag-isip lang ako. Parang pareho pa rin ang slogan nila. Pareho pa rin yata ang gagawin nila at kung may magagawa ako hindi mangyayari ‘yan. Ayoko nang ulitin ‘yung dinaanan nating problema lalo na mula 1972 hanggang 1986,” Aquino said during a meeting with local government leaders and barangay officials at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark last Monday.
Aquino was referring to the country’s dark martial law period when the countless abuses and other atrocities were committed. The Marcoses, who have been blamed for rights abuses, have yet recognize and even apologize for these offenses.
The President made the remarks after reading new reports on former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ comments about his son’s campaign battlecry.
“Sabi raw po ni Ginang Imelda Marcos, Romualdez-Marcos, ‘My son will make this country great again.’ So napag-isip ako, parang narinig ko na ‘yon ah at pina-research ko po. Iyon po ang campaign slogan ni Ferdinand Marcos noong unang tumakbo siya 1965: ‘I will make this country great again’,” Aquino said.
Marcos, the widow of the late President, earlier campaigned for her son during a visit in Leyte, asking voters to unite “so that our nation will be great again.”
