MANILA, Philippines – A spokesperson of former president Benigno Aquino III refuted the claim of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr that the Aquinos are behind the political action against the Marcoses held at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

“Pasensiya na kay Senador Bongbong Marcos dahil ‘di namin kayang sumang-ayon sa pantasya niyang pagbigyan at pansinin sila,” Abigail Valte said in a statement on Thursday, October 5.

(Sorry, Senator Bongbong Marcos, but I could not agree with, more so dignify, that which Mr Marcos is fantasizing about: to give their side some attention and some consideration.)

Valte also questioned why Marcos did not immediately condemn the incident, if he was really out to protect his family’s name. The political action happened on September 23.

She also criticized the former senator for not filing a case against the organizers.

“Dito sa statement nila, batay din sa nangyari, ang tanong namin: Kung talagang iniingatan niya ang pangalan at legasiya ng ama niya, bakit ‘di niya agarang ikondena ang mga nanloko sa ating mga kababayan? ‘Di ba dapat siyang sumama sa pagsampa ng kaso laban sa mga sumisira sa pangalan ng kanilang angkan?” Valte said.

(As evidenced by his statement, and considering what actually transpired, we all ask: If he is really bent on protecting the name and legacy of his father, why didn’t he immediately condemn those who scammed our countrymen? Shouldn’t he be at the forefront of bringing to justice those who supposedly besmirched the name of their family?)

Marcos said the UPLB political action, where thousands of Marcos loyalists were promised a share of the family’s ill-gotten wealth, is a “classic [example of] fake news” against his family. He maintained they had nothing to do with it. (READ: Bongbong Marcos: ‘My family has been suffering from fake news’)

He said he is “sure” that the Aquinos, the Marcoses’ longtime political rivals, have “something to do with it.”

The two families have a long-standing political rivalry. The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos had imprisoned former senator Benigno Aquino Jr, his staunchest critic, who was assassinated upon his return to the country from a 3-year exile on August 21, 1983. (READ: LOOK BACK: The Aquino assassination)

Former president Aquino is among the stalwarts of the Liberal Party (LP), currently chaired by Vice President Leni Robredo.

The younger Marcos had accused the LP and Robredo of cheating during the 2016 polls and has filed an electoral protest against the Vice President.

The Marcoses are also allied with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has repeatedly slammed his predecessor and the LP. – Rappler.com