Aquino: Filipinos won't let Marcos clan return to power

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III expressed confidence on Tuesday that Filipinos will not allow the family of former President Ferdinand Marcos to rise back into power.

"I have faith in my bosses, the Filipino people. There is nothing that has caused me to change the faith that they are able to discern," Aquino said during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines's annual presidential forum.

Aquino made the statement two weeks after the late dictator's son and namesake, Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., filed his candidacy for vice president.

The president laughed off claims that there has been a "resurgence" of support for the Marcoses.

He belittled the recent appearance of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on the cover of a high society magazine and the supposedly massive pro-Marcos sentiment in social media.

"By appearing on a cover of a magazine this demonstrates a resurgence of support? And social media is an unquestioned source of information that cannot be manipulated?" he said.

Aquino rather sees the pro-Marcos sentiment existing today as proof of a working democracy.

It was not like during the Marcos regime, Aquino said, when freedom of expression was curtailed.

"I think what we should demonstrate, or what should be highlighted is the fact that there is a period in time that contrary opinions were not encouraged, that somehow they were involved on the periphery of," Aquino said.

"In our watch, contrary opinions are part and parcel and protected in the democratic space that we have managed to really strengthen within our watch. That is, I think, proof positive that the democratic system in this country works," he added.

Aquino is the son of democracy icon Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., the opposition leader who was assassinated in 1983.

The elder Aquino's death and the atrocities during the Martial law days fueled the EDSA Revolution that catapulted his widow, Corazon Aquino, into the presidency.

During the media forum, the president maintained that the Marcos dictatorship was behind his father's death.

Aquino said the Marcoses should apologize to the people for the human rights abuses committed by the government during their stay in power.

He said young Filipinos should study the events during the Martial law days so these will never be repeated in Philippine history.

"Document all of these human rights abuses that happened as a matter of state policy during those dark days. Leave it for future generations to study what transpired in the hope that it can be avoided down the line," he said.