Politicians cannot be stopped from wanting to serve even if they belong to the same family, presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos said on Wednesday as he weighed in on the proliferation of political dynasties in the country.
The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was asked during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay about possible criticism that he was reestablishing the Marcos political dynasty should he win the presidency in the May 9 elections.
Marcos' son Sandro is running for congressman of the first district of Ilocos Norte while his elder sister, Imee, is an incumbent senator.
"You cannot stop people from wanting to serve. Imee wants to serve. I want to serve. Sandro, my son, wants to serve. What would I tell them? ‘No, don’t help’? Kung binoto naman ng tao, e di they deserve to be in wherever they are," Marcos said.
"Why should Imee not be allowed to work? She does a very good work. Marami siyang ginagawa. Why? Because kapatid ko?" he added.
Marcos said that although political dynasties have endured, they can
still be removed from power through elections.
"How many large political dynasties have we seen, who have been there for two generations, maybe more, na bumaligtad, na nawala? Dahil ayaw na ng tao o whatever. So, nawawala. There is the election," he added.
Marcos attributed the continued existence of political dynasties to the term limits of elected officials. The party-list system has also been abused because of these constitutional limitations, he added.
Under the 1987 Constitution, senators can only serve for six years with one reelection, while members of the House of Representatives and other local posts can serve for three terms of three years each.
"We have to look at the unintended consequences of some of the provisions in the Constitution," Marcos said.
Marcos is running for president 36 years after his family fled the Philippines in the aftermath of the first EDSA People Power Revolution, ending his father's 21 year rule.
MORE ON THE MARCOSES:
Those Marcos Videos on TikTok are Rooted in Decades of Misinformation
Where is the Marcos Family's $10 Billion Fortune?
What is the Yamashita Treasure? Marcos Bid Revives Interest in Fabled Gold
What is Imeldific? Imelda Marcos in Her Own Words, How the World Sees Her
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