Bongbong Marcos delivers own ‘SONA,’ vision for PH

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr said he has yet to decide if he’s seeking higher office in the 2016 polls. But the son and namesake of the late dictator presented before businessmen what he thinks is wrong with the country and how the next president should address them.

“I will immediately work to restore in all Filipinos the lost sense of pride in themselves and pride in being citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. We had at some point in our history that pride, that sense of nationhood but we see it to have gone astray and we have lost it,” Marcos said at the Asia CEO Talks held at The Marriot in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 29.

“My vision of our country is one that can overcome its economic and social challenges by drawing on our own strengths and drawing on our unity,” Marcos said at the forum that was held two days after President Benigno Aquino III delivered his final State of the Nation Address.

Marcos went on to present his plans for the country’s poor, emphasizing that they’re only “hypothetical.” He is the second potential presidential candidate – after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte – to attend the forum. 

The forum was attended by his supporters, who asked the senator to run for president “if not in 2016, in the next presidential elections.”

“I believe you will become the President of the Philippines,” said one of those who lined up to ask him a question. The audience applauded.

Marcos belongs to the Nacionalista Party of former Senator Manuel Villar Jr. The party leadership said they’re still having party consultations and will decide on their choice candidates in September, a month before the filing of certificates of candidacies. (READ: Highlights: Bongbong Marcos as legislator)

Marcos’ mother Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, who also attended the forum, has always been vocal about her dream to see her son become president.

“I think he has a lot of good potential. If it will be his destiny and it will be the people’s choice, I think he has enough experience,” the former first lady who faces ill-gotten wealth charges told reporters.

Marcos is said to be among those being eyed by Vice President Jejomar Binay to be his running mate in 2016. Binay is gunning for the presidency. 

Bounced back

After ruling with an iron fist for 20 years, Marcos’ father was ousted in the 1986 People Power Revolution that catapulted Corazon Aquino to the presidency. 

The Marcos government is accused of jailing and killing opponents and amassing ill-gotten wealth. Courts abroad have issued verdicts providing compensation to Martial Law victims.

The Marcoses have since bounced back, however. Senator Marcos’ sister Imee is currently the governor of Ilocos Norte. 

In his speech, Marcos said “business should take the lead in nation building” and “government should help business do business.” He said this is the best way to create jobs, distribute the country’s wealth, and stop of the exodus of Filipino workers.

“It is perhaps understandable if many doubt whether government actually has the ability to do that because recent problems have revealed shortcomings in our efforts to eliminate corruption,” he said.

He said he will adopt the gross income tax policy for businesses. 

Aquino critic

Marcos is a critic of the government’s flagship poverty program Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs, which he said is marred by leakage.

He scored alleged irregularities in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the poor state of the country’s transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.

Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) law should be amended, he said. “There is great promise if we can actually get the system to implement large national projects on PPP bases, where we can transfer the costs of capital to the private sector and even the financial risks to the private sector, whilst giving the private sector to gain profit,” he said.

He said the next president should initiate peace negotiations with all Muslim rebel groups and communist insurgents.

“I’m disappointed in the SONA that we heard a couple of days ago. He didn’t mention the Freedom of Information Bill, which he campaigned for. I believe in the FOI. I believe it is a tool to build trust, something we have to build in our country,” he said. (READ: Aquino pushes for FOI a day after SONA)

He scored Aquino’s rosy picture about the manufacturing industry. “I’m still trying ot find where that vibrant manufacturing sector exists. We don’t make anything anymore,” he said. – Rappler.com