Ferdinand Marcos Jnr defends late dictator father’s martial law legacy in the Philippines
- Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said his father declared martial law not to stay in power but due to simultaneously fighting communist and separatist rebellions
- During a televised interview, the Philippines leader denied accusations that he and his family were distorting history
Marcos, son of Ferdinand Marcos Snr who was overthrown in a 1986 popular uprising, said his father declared martial law not to stay in power but because the “government had to defend itself”.
“Martial law was declared because of the wars, the two wars we were fighting on two fronts,” Marcos said in his first interview since his landslide victory in a May election.
“Those were the dangers, the perils the country was facing,” Marcos said, as various groups including victims of human rights abuses, prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on September 21.
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His remarks are likely to bolster the concerns of critics that Marcos Jnr has no intention of distancing himself from the tenure of his father and that this could pose risks to democracy in the Philippines.
In his televised interview, Marcos Jnr denied accusations that he and his family were distorting history.