MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In a press briefing in Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the Aquino family will not reconcile with the Marcoses if there’s no justice.
Coloma reacted in the statement by vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., that President Benigno “Noynoy” III should move on with the Martial Law years, should not treat the return of the Marcos’ in public position as an avenge.
“While it may be easy to say ‘just move on,’ we believe that in so doing, we will not be doing justice to the thousands of families whose members suffered violence during the dictatorship,” Coloma said in the press briefing.
According to Coloma, the Human Rights Claims Board received 75,000 claims against abuses committed during Marial Law under late President Ferdinand Marcos, and the claimants didn’t foresee that Marcos’ election means avenge of their kin.
In a report by The Standard, Coloma said the President believes that it is important to educate the Filipino youth who were born after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution on the importance of the values of freedom and democracy.
The Palace also rejected the suggestion of Sen. Bongbong Marcos that Aquino should apologize for the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) who were slain during the encounter in Mamasapano in January, and the President already faced his accountability for the incindent.
Coloma added that the President will carry the Mamasapano incident until the end of his days, and also rejected Marcos’ allegation that the administration did nothing to give justice to the families of the fallen 44.
“How can he say that the government is not doing anything, as the Department of Justice is already investigating the incident? They have filed an information against those involved and the process of the law is already moving,” Coloma said.
However, the DOJ already filed criminal complaints against the 90 commandos including the members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other private armies. The preliminary hearing is set on November 11.