Aquino warns of looming dictatorship
manila — Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned Thursday his country was on the brink of another dictatorship, in a thinly veiled reference to controversial politicians leading surveys to win the top two posts in next month’s elections.
Tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte has surged to clear favouritism in surveys for the presidential poll, with voters apparently embracing his vows to kill tens of thousands of criminals outside the judicial system.
Meanwhile, the son and namesake of dictator Ferdinand Marcos is leading the vice-presidential race with a campaign strategy of highlighting the alleged benefits of his father’s rule.
“This is the tragedy poised to befall our nation: that we were oppressed before and yet will allow ourselves to be oppressed again and suffer the same problems that we endured under the dictatorship,” Aquino said in a speech in Manila.
“Our successes could vanish especially if my successor would stray from our straight and narrow path. The question is, will you allow these bullies who make enemies each time they open their mouth?”
Aquino did not mention Duterte by name, but it was a thinly veiled reference to him, as the presidential favourite is often called a bully and foul-mouthed by his opponents.
However Aquino did specifically mention Marcos Jnr, criticising him for refusing to apologise for his father’s crimes.
Marcos Snr’s two-decade rule ended in 1986 as millions took to the streets in a famous “People Power” revolution led by Aquino’s mother. —