Bongbong Marcos wants to revise textbook version of dad's strongman rule; critics cry foul

The son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, namesake Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. wants to change the ways things are being said about his father.

Former Senator Bong in a forum made his desire known for a revision of Philippine textbooks,where the late President has been pictured and retold as a dictator and the grimmest part of Philippine history.

He claims that his family is a “victim” of historical revisionism, asserting that accusations against them have been unproven. 

Philippine vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, attends a mass with his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, in the Philippine town of Batac, in Ilocos Norte province, on May 9, 2016 (reuters)

The Marcoses and its supporters have been criticized for defending the late dictator , even as killings , human rights abuses and plunder during his term has been proven in courts.

"Nilagay nila sa libro, ng textbook ng mga bata na ganito, na ang mga Marcos ganito ang ninakaw, ganito ang ginawa. Ngayon lumalabas sa korte, hindi totoo lahat ng sinabi ninyo dahil hindi niyo naipakita,” he told reporters at a National Press Club forum in Manila, referring to several court decisions junking cases against them.

(They placed in the textbooks for children that this is what happened, the Marcoses stole this, that we did this. Now, it appears from the courts that not everything they said is true because they were not able to prove it.)

“[T]here was no evidence. That was always the outcome. And the reason na tumagal nang ganito ay propaganda pampulitika,” he added.

(There was no evidence. That was always the outcome. And the reason why these lasted this long is for political propaganda.) 

The former senator said that they have been campaigning for years to have these textbooks changed but those in power would not act, allegedly influenced by the opposition.

“What has been proven wrong is essentially what they continue to contend in the textbooks of our children, is essentially you are teaching children lies,” he said.

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Report from ABS-CBN News