Torch of leadership passed to Bongbong

from Malaya
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03222010/metro6.html

NACIONALISTA Party senatorial candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. formally accepted the symbolic torch of leadership of the Marcos forces in Philippine politics when he was feted at the Manila Polo Club by former cabinet members and colleagues of his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, political leaders and supporters, former ranking officers of the Armed Forces and PNP, and members of the Marcos-Romualdez family clan.

The gathering was organized by Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) president and former presidential legal counsel Manuel Lazaro and former deputy executive secretary Ramon Cardenas as a rally of support for Bongbong’s candidacy.

Among the key personages from the Marcos administration were former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Central Bank governor and education secretary Jaime C. Laya, former agrarian reform secretary Conrado Estrella, former economic planning secretary Vicente Valdepeñas, and former budget secretary Manuel Alba.

Estrella spoke of the passing of the torch to Bongbong, as he talked of Marcos I and Marcos II, and called on Bongbong to carry and build on the legacy of his father.

The Marcos-Romualdez family was led by Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, herself a former human settlements minister and governor of Metro Manila.

Noynoy: I never blamed FM kids for my pa's slay

By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) 

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=559462&publicationSubCategoryId=67

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The children of the late President Ferdinand Marcos had nothing to do with the August 1983 assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said here Thursday.

Upon his arrival at the airport, he told reporters in a chance interview that he never blamed Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his older sister Imee for what happened to his father, who was the archrival of the deposed president during martial law.

Aquino recalled having said 12 years ago that he did not consider Imee, Irene or Bongbong in his father’s assassination.

“Sabihin na nating pare-pareho kaming nabiktima ng pagkakataon noong mga panahon na iyon (Let’s just say that we were all victims of circumstances in those times),” he said.

In a previous sortie in Dumaguete City, Aquino said he considers the case closed, even as he opposed the pardon given to the convicted soldiers.

“Pero yung sa akin, di tayo namemersonal (In my case, I hold no personal grudges),” he said.

Aquino recalled that when Imee was one of his colleagues in the opposition bloc at the House of Representatives, she helped him implement a hybrid rice program for his constituents in Tarlac. Bongbong took over Imee’s post in 2007.

Aquino, his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas, his sister popular talk show host Kris Aquino and her basketball player-husband James Yap received a warm welcome in this province, and even paid a courtesy call to Ilocos Norte Gov. Michael Marcos-Keon.

Aquino said he is confident that he can get the support of Ilocos Norte voters amid reports that he ranks second among favored presidential bets here. – With Jun Elias

Bongbong warns of civil war by Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

from Journal

Link: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/4931-bongbong-warns-of-civil-war.html

THE son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos yesterday warned of a civil war should massive cheating in the coming polls happen and the real winner in the presidential race will not be declared.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said the people should be vigilant in ensuring that the real choice of the people would lead the country after June 30.

Marcos issued the warning amid speculations that the recent appointment of Gen. Delfin Bangit as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is connected to the purported massive election fraud scheme being readied by the administration.

The opposition lawmaker said the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police and the AFP itself must ensure that the next president will be the real choice of the majority of Filipinos.

“It’s going to be chaos if voting in the May elections will be marred by widespread fraud. If in previous elections we saw only demonstrations and rallies, this time around, civil war could erupt,” Marcos warned.

He said the people will not allow a repeat of the massive cheating during the 2004 presidential election which the late opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Poll cheating could trigger civil war

By Jomar Canlas Reporter James Konstantin Galvez and Ruben D. Manahan 4th (The Manila Times)
Link:http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/13185-poll-cheating-could-trigger-civil-war

Civil war could erupt if massive cheating would mark the May 10 elections.

The warning was made on Thursday by the only son a former president in reaction to allegations that the recent appointment of a new military chief by President Gloria Arroyo was part of the administration’s plans to cheat in the polls less than three months away.

“It’s going to be chaos if voting in the May elections will be marred by widespread fraud. If in previous elections we saw only demonstrations and rallies, this time around civil war could erupt,” Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of Ilocos Norte said.

One of the three children of Ferdinand Marcos, whose strongman rule was ended by a popular revolt in 1986, Bongbong called on the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure that the next president will be the real choice of the majority of Filipinos.

The May 10 balloting will pick the successor to the President, whose nine-year stay in the presidency ends on June 30.