Bongbong: I won’t indulge in blame game
Twenty- six years after the EDSA People Power revolt ousted President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, his son and namesake claimed that the current state of the country is still a cause for concern.
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, said he would not indulge in a blame game.
“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, more than a quarter of a century since the experience of EDSA 1, as it has come to be known. I have chosen not to indulge in the blame game and rather invest my energy in helping move this country forward,” Marcos wrote in his Facebook page “in response to several queries.”
“But if comparisons are to be made, and if there is a need to evaluate the road taken since then and what has resulted from it, it’s not difficult to arrive at answers, provided we ask the right questions. Has poverty been alleviated? Is the wealth of the country more equitably distributed? Do we have more jobs available at home? Has there been a rise in the quality of our
education? Are we self sufficient in our daily food requirements? Is there less hunger? Crime? Insurgency? Corruption? Basic services? Health?” he added.
Marcos had earlier said that much was left to be desired in terms of development in the country since his father was forced to leave on Feb. 25, 1986.
“There is really nothing more I can add to what I’ve already said over the last two decades and what happened in the past cannot be changed,” Marcos said.
The senator has often been asked about his thoughts on the EDSA revolt that removed his father from office and what lessons were learned from that event and more often than not, he has declined to talk on the subject.
But as in previous years when he decided to say something about it, Marcos’ thoughts were the same: the country has to do more in order to catch up with its Asian neighbors in terms of development.
Marcos lamented that nations like China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have all gained much ground over the past 26 years and “unfortunately, for the majority of our people, nothing much has changed.”
He cited the Social Weather Stations’ latest survey on unemployment, which recorded a rate of 24 percent or close to 10 million people.
“The country’s economic performance last year sank to a dismal 3.7 percent growth. The problems we face remain daunting and there is still that need for Filipinos to unite and face these challenges as one nation, with a singular aim and direction, with a leadership that is willing to make sacrifices and capable of harnessing the talents of our people,” Marcos said.
“We have seen what our neighbors have been able to achieve in the last 26 years. There is no reason why we cannot at least match their achievements if not do better,” he added.
Marcos said that much of what needs to be done has to come from the top, particularly by setting the right priorities.
“We need to change the politics of this country. Our leaders cannot be forever squabbling, engaging in vindictiveness, wasting energy and government resources in putting each other down at the expense of those that need help the most. Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the hungry,” he said.
“Excuses cannot substitute for performance and results. Promises without delivery only feed the anger of the people. Before it’s too late, let us all roll up our sleeves and get to work for the betterment of our country. For all and not just for some. If there is need for change in people’s attitudes and habits, let that change begin with ourselves. There is no argument more eloquently made than the one made by example,” he added.
Much of the criticisms and anger towards the Marcos administration were directed at the decision of the former president to declare mar- tial law in the early 1970s, where widespread human rights abuses were recorded.
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