Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Are the Marcoses the ‘special guests’ at Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential inauguration?

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At ang bangkay ni Duterte (corpse of Duterte)

By Raïssa Robles

If they are, we are looking at the REAL REASON why Vice-President Leni Robredo was told to hold her own separate inauguration.

That’s never happened before, according to Manolo Quezon, an outgoing official of President Benigno Aquino’s administration. (Manolo is now happily marking the days when he can become a private citizen and can resume pursuing his passion. Philippine history.)

In effect, the Duterte administration told Robredo – “Supi” (a Filipino word, roughly translated to mean, ‘bug off’).

One of the commenters on my site precisely posted the same question that I am now asking. @Sam wrote:

Just a wild question

Digong wants to have his oath taking to be simple and his reason why he wants VP Robredo separated from his, thinking that there might not be enough room.

Here is my question … would the Marco’s be invited?

Yeah, will Bongbong, Imee, Irene and Imelda Marcos – all former occupants of Malacañang Palace – be invited back to their residence of 21 years? In effect rehabilitating them in the eyes of the public?

Duterte only confessed his closeness to the Marcoses after he became president.

Notice that Duterte – whose handlers have dubbed the “unity and healing president” – has never ever congratulated Robredo for her win. In fact, he has not given her his time of day. By comparison he met FOR HOURS and even dined with the losing vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

During Duterte’s miting de avance (or final presidential rally), the mayor of Davao City warned his supporters that a Leni win would not be good for his presidency. During Duterte’s May 31 press conference, a member of media – presumably from Davao City – warned Duterte not to appoint Robredo to any cabinet post because she could turn out to be the “trojan horse” in his government.

Duterte made it clear early on that he would not give the young widow any cabinet post because that would hurt the feelings of his friend, Bongbong Marcos. Never mind the 14.4 million Filipinos who had voted Robredo into office.

Given all these, Duterte’s decision to keep Robredo out of what should have been a joint inauguration is understandable: she would make the Marcos family very sad indeed.

I really wonder if the Marcoses helped to fund the Duterte campaign. There was this bit of news that came out after the elections that Duterte had returned to donors his unspent campaign funds. I wonder how much of that went back to the Marcoses. It would make a lot of sense for the Marcoses to back Duterte who has a gushing fondness for them. In his May 31 press conference (the last one he would give ever, he claimed), Duterte spoke of how his late father served President Ferdinand Marcos.

Someone in Facebook posted the photo below. It showed Duterte’s father among the insiders in Malacañang Palace during Marcos’ presidency, before he imposed Martial Law.

Duterte wants to give his late dad’s boss a hero’s burial. No matter how Duterte twists and turns about burying Marcos only because he was a soldier, the truth stares us all in the face that by burying Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery for Heroes), Duterte is revising history.

He is rolling back what had happened in February 1986 when the people booted the Marcoses out of office. I wonder what will happen to the Edsa “People Power” celebration next year with Duterte as president. I wonder what will happen to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), a unit under the Office of the President. Its main task is to retrieve the wealth stolen and hidden by the Marcos family all these years.

No one was able to ask Duterte about the PCGG and about Edsa People Power and what he was doing when Edsa was happening. (Duterte’s mother, however, was said to be for Cory Aquino.)

Duterte has repeatedly said in his very colorful language that he hates corruption and corrupt government officials. And yet his closest friends are the Marcos family – whose father was the worst criminal plunderer in the country’s history –  and whose family continues to secrete the ill-gotten wealth stolen from the government.

Which is why I’m quite skeptical of Duterte’s assertions that he is against corruption.

He doesn’t walk his talk.

 

On the first working day of President Rodrigo Duterte, the University of the Philippines Third World Studies will hold a forum on the Dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.

I am honored to be one of the speakers. Among the topics to be discussed are Marcos’ fake medals and press freedom during his dictatorship.

Historian Ricardo Jose has pointed out on Facebook one of the memes being circulated about Marcos’ medals:

Below is the news release on the forum:

Ang Bangkay ni Duterte: Isang Pampublikong Lamay para kay Pangulong Marcos Bago Siya Ipalibing ni Pangulong Duterte sa Libingan ng mga Bayani

1 Hulyo 2016 (Biyernes), 2:00 hanggang 5:00 ng hapon

Lobby, Palma Hall, Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman

Mga Tagapagsalita: Ricardo Jose, Raissa Robles, Ric Reyes, at Helen Mendoza

Moderator: Maria Ela L. Atienza

Karay-karay ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte papasok sa Malacañang ang nakakasulasok na usapin ng pagpapalibing sa dating pangulo at diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Ipapalibing n’ya raw si Marcos sa nasabing libingan dahil naging sundalo naman ito noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Totoong naging sundalo si Marcos sa panahong iyon. Pero anong klaseng sundalo? Sundalong nanraraket, sundalong nanggagantso, sundalong sinungaling, sundalong namemeke ng ranggo, sundalong nag-iimbento ng mga medalya at titulo, sundalong pinagpasasaan ang isyu ng mga beterano, sundalong kinatasan ang mga bayad-pinsala sa digmaan, sundalong dinambong sa mahigit dalawampung taon ang yaman ng bayan, sundalong binayoneta ang demokrasya. Lahat ng uri ng pagkasundalong ito ni Marcos, patutunayan ng mga respetadong iskolar, mamamahayag, at pampublikong intelektuwal na magsasalita sa forum na ito.

Sa harap ng mga atras-abanteng pahayag ni Pangulong Duterte, pakinggan natin ang mga katotohanan ng kasaysayan na hindi nababawi o nababaluktot. Paano paghihilumin ni Pangulong Duterte ang pagkakahati ng mga Pilipino, kung gagawin niya ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpaparaya lamang sa kagustuhan ng “halos lahat ng Ilokano”?

“Someone has to give” sabi niya. Pero bakit ang 70,000 na nakulong, 34,000 na tinortyur, 3,240 na pinatay, at ang kanilang mga pamilyang naulila ang kailangang ilang ulit pang magparaya? Hindi ba pantapal lang ni Pangulong Duterte ang layuning pagkaisahin ang bansa para mas mapagyaman pa ang pakikipagkaibigan niya sa mga Marcos?

“Will it unite Filipinos? I don’t know, but I know there is one hatred I can erase,” sabi niya. Hindi ba’t buburahin rin ng pangulo ang malinaw na husga ng kasaysayan na ang rehimeng Marcos ay isa sa pinakamasahol na panahon sa ating kasaysayan?

Hindi tiyak ni Pangulong Duterte na sa pagpapalibing na ito ay mapag-iisa niya ang bansa. Pero tiyak na sa pagbaon kay Pangulong Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani magiging katanggap-tanggap ang kasinungalingan at ang pagiging mandarambong kabayanihan na rin.

Sa forum na ito, walang palusot na biro lang ang mga pahayag, hindi kailangang hulaan ang kahulugan. Sa unang araw ng pagkaluklok n’ya sa panguluhan, samantalahin natin ang pagkakataong ito na magtipon at mag-usap bago n’ya tayo lahat masabihan ng, “Shut up!”

Comments

  1. I am just wondering why its easy for you to accuse late president marcos. I think you are not in the right position to say what you said. Do you know really who ferdinand marcos as a soldier? I think you need to know yourself at the first place before knowing other people. Late president marcos is already dead and he cannot answer you ! coward. And you know what? I will tell you ! Only president Duterte has got the right decision to allow late president marcos to be buried sa libingan ng mga bayani. Why may magaling pa bang presidente ng pilipinas after Marcos? Tell me?

      • I thought mga journalists/media is neutral on judgement….i think duterte didnt attend the proclamation and even want separate inauguration coz he dont like the filipino people to be upset because he knows and believes there was cheating in fhe last election….it seems u want to say dat duterte wants separate coz his guest are marcoses….

        • Sabihin na nating may knamkam c marcos sa bayan…pero may mga project siyang nagawa…may d sya natapos dahil nga sa edsa pero ung mga nasimulan nyang ibang projects which will surely benefit the people eh bkt d pnagpatuloy ng mga aquino?kc ayaw nilang isipin ng tao na c marcos nagsimula non…they dont like to continue even if it is indeed beneficial to the people coz ghey font want to give merit to marcos….is that how a true public servant should think?…ninoy was assasinated….2 aquinos ruled the country but why they didnt pursue the investigation?why they dont like to open the case?bbm wants to open the case coz he wants to prove his father was not behind that assasination but the aquino who was the family victim font like…and take note they are in power…..WHY?????

        • Do you have some coverage on yolanda funds,saf44 and hacienda luisita?what hapoened????i didnt see u post anything to question the previous admin…or ur journalists only to condemn marcos?

        • hacienda luisita, yes.

          I didnt have time to write about yolanda funds last year since I was doing my book.

    • @Elizabeth

      And why is it easy for you to make your counter-claims without any references or citations?

      Check history books, reference materials and Raissa’s books. They all have references and verified sources unlike you.

      Can you do that?

    • Raissa, you are one of a Kind! Please continue writing and tell the world what is the truth and what is fair. GOD bless!

  2. raissa you can’t seem to get enough denigrating duterte .election is over. why not support pres.digong. get this in your thick head duterte’s success is the success of the Filipino people and the country. you are obviously a purveyor of negative. the president to be can invite whom ever he wants. its his prerogative and privilege.as to leni , the Philippine president is not compelled by any law or morally even to give the VP any cabinet position .the VP’s real job under the law is to be a “spare tire” .as duterte said ” change is coming” but change begins with us. so raissa be the agent of unity ,one people one nation. mabuhay ang Filipino, mabuhay ang pilipinas.

    • I am merely examining the kind of change he wants.

      There is beneficial change snd there is the opposite kind.

      Of course the President is gree to invite anyone he pleases.

      And citizens are free to comment on his guest list.

      What you want is an unfree citizenry.

  4. I can only say one thing : it’s payback time for the Marcoses and they will certainly make it a point to collect.

    • @ lilia b balan: Walang utang ang pilipinas kay marcos. si marcos ang may utang na napalaki sa pilipinas. what payback time are you talking about?

  6. Why gossipers cannot stop. They are not happy and always have comments but lack of action. This is our country and all of the people should stand as one nation under one God. It doesn’t matter what your race, your age, religion, gender all that matter is we should have respect and compassion to one another. We need to change for the future generation. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

  8. Good news – for a change

    “Vast deposits of Methane Hydrate in Benham Rise could turn the Philippines into a natural gas exporter”

    Benham Plateau, also known as Benham Rise, is a 13-million-hectare undersea region rich in minerals and huge natural gas deposits, located in the Philippine Sea, East of Luzon.

    In April 2012, the UNCLOS has approved the Philippines’ territorial claim to Benham Rise, which the Philippine government claimed as an extension of the Philippine continental shelf

    Methane ice deposits are believed to be a larger hydrocarbon resource than all of the world’s oil, natural gas and coal resources combined, it could become the next energy game changer. Experts dubbed the methane ice as the “fuel of the future”

    In fact, the deposits of this methane ice in Benham Rise are believed to be so huge, it could make the Philippines one of the richest countries in the world. Japan and South Korea have expressed interest in exploring Benham Rise.

    http://www.moderntribune.info/vast-deposits-of-methane-hydrate-in-benham-rise-could-turn-the-philippines-into-a-natural-gas-exporter/

  9. Cleaning House with a vengeance greased by Dirty Money

    DOJ is expediting dismissing cases, making midnight appointments for obvious motives in conspiracy with prosecutors.

    System is dirty, payback to Duterte for announcing that all co-terminus employees should step down immediately. Duterte men coming to DOJ will be impeded on instituting reforms if they begin to investigate or review the dismissed cases and midnight appointments. It happened during GMA to Aquino turnover. It’s deja vu to Duterte transition.

    Prominent cases dismissed are both denounced by Duterte during campaign.
    1. Possibility of military men involved in drug distribution- most prominent us the case of Marcelino possibly effected with conspiracy with prosecutors. Money talks!

    2. Laglag BALA NAIA syndicate- all accused exonerated by DOJ possible only with conspiracy with prosecutors. Money talks!

    “Killing Time” needed to teach lessons to DOJ, Prosecutors, NAIA and Aviation Security personnel. If nothing is done or an example shown to other government employees, Duterte reform movement is doomed to fail.

    He he he!

  11. Burial of Destiny and Fortunes

    According to an insider, the strategists and advisers of Duterte informed Duterte that there is a great possibility of division in the country if he allows Marcos’ cadaver be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

    One adviser tried to find the words which will not bring out the temper from Duterte. The adviser was trying to find a gentler way as substitute for:

    If Duterte allows the burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, then Duterte’s political fortunes will be buried as well!

    Until now, nobody in the inner circle would like to bring this possibility, else Duterte might have an outburst and fire the messenger.

    Parekoy
    06-23-2016

    • Oi, oi Parekoy, we missed you here.

      Duterte has two kinds of circles.
      The ones who kowtow as in sipsip
      The ones who toe the line, follow the rules, but they are the ones ready to pack their bags.

      Marcos is Duterte’s strength and weakness, let us see if this would bring him (mis) fortunes.

      • duterte ought to have the bangkay verified dahil it might be as fake as makoy’s war medals. for once, I’m in one mind with joma sison that makoy might have been buried long ago in ilocos. and that what’s in the airconditioned crypt in vigan is only a wax effigy of makoy. better looking than the real makoy and made to look decades younger, for when makoy died he was emaciated, ravaged by diseases and unrecognizable from the man he was once.

        have that bangkay x-rayed to make sure there is laman, all 206 bones of the human body, nothing more, nothing less. else imeldefect will be laughing unti her knickers fall down, na ang galing nya talaga to have duped the people again, duterte included, in thinking it was makoy lying in the crypt when it is only a giant wax sculpture made to look like makoy.

        • I fully agree. In the case of Vladimir Lenin whose embalmed/refrigerated body has been on public display at Moscow’s Red Square since his death in 1924, when the embalmers faced problems such as the appearance of dark spots on the skin, especially on the face and hands. They managed to solve the problem by the use of a variety of different reagents in between baths. For example, if a patch of wrinkling or discoloration occurred, it was treated with an acetic acid solution diluted with vodka. Hydrogen peroxide could be used to restore the tissues’ original colouring. Damp spots were removed by means of disinfectants like quinine or phenol. (wikipedia)

          For makoy, there’s no need for such regular treatments since it’s presumably a wax sculpture only and imelda could just apply makeup to make the face pinkish since the body won’t deteriorate in time.

        • hehehe, tama kayo.
          noon pa man ay kandila na lang ang tawag ko jan.
          dahil kinain na ng uod-iloko ang laman ng vangcai.
          noon pa man.
          ang magpaloko ay loko rin. :)

        • anyone who has gone to see madame tausud’s wax museum would say, the wax replicas and effigies there are so lifelike and breathtaking, there is perfect attention to details: the skin pigment, even the neck measurements as well inside leg are down to pat. bees wax ang ginamit, kaso these days, beeswax is getting harder and harder to find. people who works with props like in the movies are now using latex and fiberglass to create human like features.

    • Cadaver or wax (suspicion of moonie), Duterte can change his mind.

      . . . cadaver it will be a messtiny,

      . . . wax it will be a faxck!

      Outsourced from Parekoy

      he he he

      • yay! imeldefect will have the biggest laugh, imagine a wax buried in libingan. serves us right for running them marcoses out of the country, and not electing her son as vice president.

        lol, that would have been imeldefect’s inverted tiara played on people, gullible people.

        • Du30 must verify first if it’s real or wax lest he’ll be the laughing stock of the people for insisting the burial at the LNB.

  12. Where are our GUN BOATS?

    ‘INFANTA, Philippines — Jonathan Almandrez was chased away from the rich fishing grounds of a South China Sea lagoon by a Chinese patrol — something he hopes will stop happening if the Philippines wins an international legal case against Beijing.
    The incident at Scarborough Shoal, a necklace of reefs and rocks that Filipino fishermen say hosts some of the world’s most abundant marine life, is part of a long-running territorial row that sits at the heart of a UN backed tribunal expected to rule in the coming weeks.’

    ‘“I was angry at their gall to shoo us away when we were clearly inside Philippine territory,” said the 30-year-old, who used a pseudonym as he did not want to be identified for fear of potential Chinese repercussions.
    Almandrez — who provided mobile phone footage of the encounter to AFP — said for two hours on June 7, Chinese coast guard patrol boats circled a wooden outrigger carrying 10 Filipino fishermen.
    The patrol boats got within about two meters (six feet) of the vessel, which had been fishing the reefs just outside the shoal before daylight betrayed them to the Chinese.
    “Transfer to another area! No fishing inside,” the Chinese patrol personnel shouted in English, according to Almandrez.

    “You go (back) to China because this is the property of the Philippines,” Almandrez recalled shouting back.’

    Where are our GUN BOATS? These Pinoy FISHERMEN have guts to fish there despite the danger. Do our Navy personnel and Coast Guards have guts?

    Stop Buying Those War Boats since we are not willing even to escort/guard our FISHERMEN.

    Philippines is afraid to have a water-cannon war with the Chinese Navy/Coast Guard boats.

    Sana BUHAY pa si LAPU-LAPU of Mactan Island!

    Pres. Aquino? Pres.-elect Duterte? Will we get massacred in water-cannon war here?

    Kaka HIYA naman. KakaAwa tayo.

    http://globalnation.inquirer.net/140371/filipino-fishermen-pin-hopes-on-un-tribunal

    • “New Filipino president has just admitted that china owns the Scarborough Shoal”

      Duterte announced on his press conference that he requested permission from chinese premiere xi jinping through the chinese ambassador to allow Filipino fishermen to fish at Panatag Shoal, he proudly relayed to the media that the request was granted and Filipino fishermen are no longer blocked and harassed by the chinese coast guard in the area.

      The Philippines has just lost its rights in the Scarborough Shoal, Duterte asking from a permission to china is simply stating that china has the indisputable authority in the area and the chinese will surely take this advantage as a counter argument in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, its totally devastating for the Philippines, political analysts have said.

      http://themaharlikan.info/politics/new-filipino-president-has-just-admitted-that-china-owns-the-scarborough-shoal/

    • You don’t need the gunboats.

      There have been much bigger boats and aircraft that carries “the most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA already dispatched for exercise drills and dogfights, wait a minute….

      Are these drills to pacify warring fishermen? I DON’T THINK SO.

      No wonder kaya naman pala , urong ang balls ng mga leaders. Something is up, for your and all the world citizens sake, I really hope not.

      http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/america-makes-big-move-the-south-china-sea-10-warthogs-more-16668

      • Outgoing and in-coming leaders are just afraid to die. . . death.

        In-coming leader prefers death (penalty), not for Chinese soldiers, but for all criminals, alleged suspects or will be confirmed convicts.

        What is ‘something is up’? If one wants to live one must be willing to face death. Death generates life and vice-versa.

        The ‘up’ is live (so not to die) Filipinos . . . live (do not die) Chinese bullies. When will Chinese get PALAWAN Islands? Soon!

        ‘Let us ask permission from Chinese to fish around PALAWAN ISLANDS.’ Next soon also!

        Compare situation: a violent intruder is entering your house, breaking windows to enter, already at your receiving area.

        Reaction of household master and members of the family: ‘ah. . . okay lang. aha, let us help you (the intruder) hit that hammer on our heads. . .’

        This is the kind of ‘death that does not generate life.’ And vice-versa. Inutile locally.

        Inutile nationally? In the Panatag Shoal invasion, no sign of even a minor ineffective opposition from our leaders.

        Na takot! Paralyzed due to fear. AFRAID (to die). Yes, we might win in the courts (UN courts) but that decision says: Enforce it yourselves. Bahala Kayo Sa Buhay Nyo! (UN Court cannot enforce that decision.)

        Yes, US Navy may enforce it but. . . but. . . but. . . for US National Security Interests, not ours.

        he he he

        • it’s like a dike, you just need a small crack, a dent to start with, and the dike’s structure is compromised.

          with unclos ruling, we may or may not have a leg to stand on. but if we are given legal leg to stand on, we can do something.