As Jeff Ortega Trends, Senators Tackle Marcos Day Bill

Senators are explaining their stand on a bill that seeks to declare the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' birthday a holiday in his home province, Ilocos Norte, just as a regional tourism official continued to trend on social media for addressing the former leader's son and namesake as "vice president."

Over three decades since the Marcos patriarch's death, he remains a topic of national conversation. Regional tourism officer Jeff Ortega's introduction of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. underscores how his protest against Vice President Leni Robredo remain unresolved.

Robredo edged out Marcos Jr by just 260,000 votes.

ALSO READ: 'Vice President' Bongbong Remark Lights Up Twitter, Who's Behind It?

At the Senate, the Marcos Day bill was endorsed to a technical working group pending approval from the Committee on Local Government chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino with Sen. Imee Marcos as vice chair.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian clarified reports that he voted in favor of the bill. "Records of the proceedings can confirm that no 'voting' took place in the said hearing. I hope this clarifies the misleading news," he said.

Sen. Nancy Binay also issued a statement on the matter, saying, "I wish to reiterate that I did not vote for the approval of the bill and will not support any bill that would cause historical revisionism."

Binay's father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, was a human rights lawyer during the Marcos years who fought against the regime's alleged abuses.

The Marcos Day bill was first filed in the House of Representatives by Ilocos Norte congressmen Angelo Marcos Barba and Ria Christina Fariñas, and Probinsyano Ako partylist Rep. Rudys Cesar Farinas, who is also from the province.