MALACANANG, Philippines- Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Thursday maintained that election into office does not vindicate the Marcoses from the atrocities committed during the Martial Law era.
The Palace official was reacting to a statement made by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. that President Benigno S. Aquino III should move on from the Martial Law years instead of asking the Marcos family to apologize.
Senator Marcos’ mother, the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, represents Ilocos Norte’s Second District in the House of Representatives, while his sister, Imee, serves as governor of the province. The senator is running for vice president in the 2016 elections.
“President Aquino has said time and again that there can be no reconciliation without justice. While it may be easy to say, ‘Just move on,’ we believe that in so doing, we will not be doing justice to the thousands of families whose members suffered violence during the dictatorship,” Secretary Coloma told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“As noted by the President, the government has in effect offered an apology by creating a Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board to redress their grievances. As reported by the board, more than 75,000 claims have been received. Evidently, the claimants are not accepting the view that election means vindication,” he added.
He further said that the President believes in educating the Filipino youth who were born after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution on the importance of the values of freedom and democracy.
President Aquino had earlier stated that the Marcos family should say sorry for the atrocities committed during Martial Law.
When asked to comment on Senator Marcos’ statement that President Aquino should apologize for the Mamasapano incident, Coloma said there is no need for it because the Chief Executive has already taken responsibility for the death of the 44 members of the Special Action Force.
“Matagal nang tinatalakay ang mga usaping iyan dahil makailang beses nagtalumpati sa bansa ang ating Pangulo at inilatag niya ang mga buong kaganapan hinggil sa nangyari sa Mamasapano. Inako ng Pangulo ang responsibilidad para dito at maaalala ninyo noong ika-anim ng Pebrero sinabi niya that ‘I will carry this with me till the end of my days’. At sa aming palagay ay sapat na ang mga naipahayag ni Pangulong Aquino hinggil dito,” said the Palace official.
Malacanang: Election is not vindication
