Press Release
March 19, 2010

I never blamed the Marcos children for my father's murder - Aquino

LAOAG CITY - Senator Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino on Thursday said he has never blamed the children of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos for the assassination of his father, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., almost 27 years ago. "I said it publicly 12 years ago; I don't blame Imee, Irene or Bongbong. Let's just say we were all victims of the times," he told reporters here.

"If we're after anything, if at all, it's to learn from the incident so it will not be repeated," Aquino said, adding that there is a 20-year prescription period for murder, making it hard to determine if it is technically possible to reopen the case. "But I hold no personal grudges," he stressed. Aquino also noted that when then Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos was one of his colleagues at the House of Representatives, she helped him implement a hybrid rice program for his constituents.

It was Aquino's first time to set foot in "Marcos territory" since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972. On the other hand, Aquino also said he would not interfere in ongoing court cases involving the Marcoses' alleged ill-gotten wealth.

"As for the request to stop the investigation on the Marcos wealth, I don't think that would be right. Let's let the courts do their job and decide on the case," he said.

Meanwhile, Aquino said he is confident he can get the support he needs from Ilocos Norte voters, amid reports he rates second among presidential bets here.

"It's the first time I've been here in a while and I'm rating at number two. I think that's a good rating, and I'm thankful," Aquino said. "During my senatorial campaign, my ratings in Ilocos Norte were much higher compared to Pampanga, where some sleight of hand was at work. I rated 10 in Ilocos, 12 in Pampanga."

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