Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Saturday history has yet to judge his father's two-decade rule, when asked how he felt about being referred to as a dictator's son.
The 64-year-old former senator said the present is not the time to discuss the Marcos years, when those who comment on it are either for or against his father.
"Lahat naman tayo... They have the right to their opinion. Kung 'yan ang kanilang iniisip, wala tayong magagawa," he told DZBB when asked how he felt about being referred to as son of a former dictator.
Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ruled the Philippines for 20 years, most of which saw the country under martial law. The late strongman and his associates were accused of a raft of human rights violations, including torture and forced disappearances. They also allegedly pocketed $10 billion from public coffers.
"Madalas gustong pagusapan ay yung nakaraan. Sa aking palagay, sige pagusapan natin yan pero pagusapan muna natin ang mga problema ngayon kasi krisis tayo madaming Pilipinong naghihirap," he said.
"Sa aking palagay may oras yan, maa lugar yan, pero hindi ngayon ang lugar na magtatalo tayo sa history of the Philippines. Ang kailangan pinag-uusapan natin ano ba gagawin natin," he said.
Asked when would be the right time to discuss his father's rule, Marcos Jr. said: "Ilagay natin sa mga historian, sa mga propesor yung mga nag-aaral ng kasaysayan, lahat naman na pinaguuspan yan ay may agenda," he said.
"Siguro pag nakaraan na ilang taon may distansya na tayo sa mga pangayayari kung saan tayo ay naging kasama sa kasaysayan na yan, ipaubaya natin sa mga historian para malaman nila, objectively speaking, ano ba talaga nangyari, ano ba talaga analysis sa palagaya ko sila pinka-tama na mag-aaral diyan," he said.
Asked about persistent calls for the Marcos family to apologize to the nation, he said: "I cannot apologize for somebody else... Let us allow the objective study of history to be the final arbiter of that period in our history," he said.
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