EXPLAINER: Digong of the South and Marcoses of the North: Their Relationship In Retrospect
PHILIPPINES -- President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Beijing, China has recently made a buzz on social media, triggering mixed reactions from netizens. Apparently, some weren’t happy about the president’s remarks about the former vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.
In a gathering of China-based Filipinos in Beijing, the Philippine leader suggested that if the young Marcos wins the protest, the country will see a new vice president.
"Si Bingbong, ah si Bongbong…Kung manalo siya sa protest niya baka bago ang ating bise presidente," Duterte said.
Previously, Robredo won the vice presidency via a slim margin of 200,000 votes against the young Marcos. The latter is convinced that there has been an electoral fraud.
Not only that the president’s remarks upset many people, but the presence of Bongbong and Imee Marcos in the event came as a surprise as well. Allegedly, the two Marcoses were not included in the official list of Philippine Delegation which was initially released to the media.
In retrospect, this was not the first time that Duterte has displayed coziness with the Marcoses. In fact, the president is explicit in expressing his close relationship with the premier family of the North.
The recent event in China has prompted The Quintessence to look on the relationship between Iron Fist of the South and the Marcoses of the North. The following are the most interesting (and rather strange) events linking the two powerful political figures hailing from the opposing poles of the country.
The president’s father was a loyal supporter of Ferdinand Marcos
The Duterte patriarch, Vicente Gonzales Duterte, served as a governor of Davao from 1959-1965. This was after he previously served as Mayor of Danao, Cebu.
As much as he promotes that his mother Soledad Roa Duterte was an icon of the anti-Marcos movement in Davao City, President Duterte is equally explicit about his father being a Marcos loyalist.
In a speaking engagement in Makati City, the president recounted how his father has never left former President Marcos’ side.
“One of the two who stood by Marcos in his darkest hours. Everybody was shifting to the Liberal [Party] at the time, kay Diosdado Macapagal, and it was only [former Zamboanga del Sur Governor Bienvenido] Ebarle and my father who stood by Marcos,” the president mentioned.
He added that this was reason why his father was appointed as a cabinet member in the former Dictator’s administration.
“So iyan ang ano namin, I cannot really dissociate [myself],” Duterte added.
Imee Marcos supported Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign
In the same speaking engagement, President Duterte admitted that Rep. Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte, daughter of former president Ferdinand Marcos, donated to his campaign. Duterte said that she was one of the few politicians who supported him during his candidacy.
“Wala akong barangay captain, congressman. Wala akong pera. Si Imee pa ang nagbigay, sabi niya inutang daw niya. Imee supported me,” the president mentioned.
Despite the fact that her brother Bongbong ran with a different presidentiable in the name of late Sen. Miriam Santiago, Imee helped fund Duterte’s presidential bid. Duterte added that Imee even borrowed money to aid his journey to Malacañang.
However, Imee Marcos was not listed among the contributors indicated on Duterte's Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Duterte allowed the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
For days, many streets around Metro Manila had been filled with protesters after former president Ferdinand Marcos was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) in November this year. For these protesters, the manner in which the late dictator has been buried was rather sneaky. According to the family of the late dictator, President Duterte has allowed the burial.
For President Duterte, this issue has divided the country for a long time, and allowing the burial would put it to rest.
"Patay na ang tao, [ano] pa ang gusto niyo? Do you want the cadaver to be burned? Would that satisfy your rage?" the president said.
"It is my sole decision. I accept full moral, legal responsibility. I believe it has created division in the country,” he added.--The Quintessence