Aquino: Marcos regime not the golden age
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday stressed that the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos was not the country's golden age.
During his speech at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, Aquino recalled the country's situation during martial law.
"Napapailing na nga lang po ako, dahil may mga nagsasabi raw na ang panahon ni Ginoong Marcos ang siyang golden age ng Pilipinas. Siguro nga, golden days para sa kanya, na matapos na masagad ang dalawang termino bilang pangulo, na katumbas ng walong taon, gumawa pa siya ng paraan na kumapit sa kapangyarihan," Aquino said.
The president added that it may have been a "golden age" for Marcos and his cronies.
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Aquino noted that the country's debt increased during the term of office. He said that national government's debt was at P2.4 billion when the dictator took office in 1965. At the end of 1985, the country's debt was about P192.2 billion two months before Marcos was deposed.
The chief executive also considered the Marcos era as the golden age of the so-called "brain drain" as Filipinos left the country to work overseas.
"Ngayon sa atin ay golden age na ng pagbabalik ng mga OFW," the president said.
Aquino pointed out that the members of the New People's Army grew during martial law.
"Noon, golden age ng mga New People’s Army, na dahil sa pagkadismaya ng taumbayan ay sinasabing lumobo mula sa 60 katao tungo sa 25,000 ang hanay noong pagtapos ng Batas Militar," Aquino said.
Aquino also recalled the land-grabbing in Mindanao during the Marcos regime. He lamented the abuse that the Moros experienced at the time.
"Nauso nga po ang land-grabbing sa Mindanao; ang rehimeng Marcos naman, sa halip na pumanig sa mga pinagsamantalahan, ay tila kinunsinti pa ang mga nanggigipit," the president said.
Aquino also hit Marcos' son, Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for stalling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
"At di po ba: Ang BBL, naipit sa Senado sa kumite para sa lokal na gobyerno, na pinamumunuan ni Senador Marcos?" Aquino said.
Marcos Jr. heads the Senate committee on local government, which submitted the substitute Bangsamoro Bill in October 2015.
In December 2015, Marcos Jr. claimed that the BBL would not be passed during the term of Aquino as the Senate and House have not finished deliberations.
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