ISABELA, Philippines – To people opposed to martial law, the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 restored democracy. To vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, it disrupted the good plans that his father and namesake had for the country.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, February 23, he said the successors of President Ferdinand Marcos failed to retain the Philippines' record as the country with the highest literacy rate. They also failed at lowering the cost of fuel and distributing sustainable sources of power.
The older Marcos was president for about 21 years.
Marcos Jr said that after the EDSA revolution in 1986, many of the projects started by his father were either not continued or not implemented.
He made the statement after evading the question of whether there was still a need to celebrate the EDSA People Power Revolt.
“Mahirap akong magsabi dahil ako nasa kabilang barikada nung EDSA. Ang sinasabi ko, maraming hindi natapos na tatapusin sana noong 1986,” the younger Marcos said.
(I cannot comment on whether it still needs to be celebrated because I was on the other side of the barricade during EDSA. What I can say is that many projects set to be completed in 1986 were disrupted.)
For instance, Marcos said, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) was supposed to have 8 lines as planned by his father. The original plan was not pursued by succeeding administration, and the train system is now “problematic” 30 years after.
“Para magpagawa ng walong linya, pagbili lang ng bagong tren ay napakalaking problema,” Marcos said. (How can they construct 8 lines if there's problem buying even one train?)
During a sortie in Pangasinan province on February 12, he said that the country “regressed in many, many ways since 1986.”
No public appearance on EDSA 30
Marcos will have no public appearances on Thursday, February 25, during the commemmoration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolt.
He said he will have private meetings in Manila and will proceed to Pangasinan for a Friday sortie.
On the Thursday, several groups are expected to stage protests against his possible return to Malacañang, having topped the latest vice presidential poll.
"Wala tayong public appearances dahil holiday. Ang mga tao maraming ginagawa kaya mahirap magpa-meeting," Marcos answered briefly. (We'll have no public appearances because it's a holiday. People will have many activities so it will be difficult to organize [big] meetings.)
Solid North in Binay bailiwick
In his speeches in Echague town and Cauayan City, Marcos asked the crowds to make the “Solid North” vote possible to elect him vice presidential.
The "Solid North," otherwise known as the Ilocano vote, is the consolidated and "unified" votes of Ilocanos in 3 regions in northern Luzon.
Isabela Governor Faustino “Bojie” Dy III showed support for Marcos, introducing him as the next “vice president.”
Dy earlier announced that he is supporting the presidential bid of Liberal Party's Manuel Roxas II, a cousin of Marcos' wife. Vice Governor Tonypet Albano has endorsed his townmate, Vice President Jejomar Binay, for president.
Isabela province is known as Binay's bailiwick. He won big here against Roxas in the 2010 vice presidential elections. Binay’s mother is from Cabagan town in this province. – Rappler.com