BY PETER TABINGO and VICTOR REYES
THREE generations of the Marcos family, including the 92-year-old former first lady Imelda Marcos, joined President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at his official proclamation last night at the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
In contrast, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, daughter of incumbent President Duterte, went up the rostrum all alone to have her hands raised by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Lord Alan Velasco although the families of both candidates were invited to join them.
Outside the Batasan, police blocked about 200 members of various militant and leftist groups marching on Commonwealth Avenue as they were heading to the complex to protest the proclamation of both Marcos Jr and Duterte-Carpio.
Policemen fired water cannon at the protesters.
The League of Filipino Student said least 10 protesters were hurt in the confrontation.
Marcos, in a short interview with reporters after the proclamation ceremonies, thanked Filipinos and said he would always strive for perfection.
“…I ask you all, pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when a president does well, the country does well and I want to do well for this country,” he said.
Asked how he felt, Marcos said: “I am humbled because for anyone in public service or in the public life, the most valuable thing you may receive from a fellow citizen is their vote because embedded in that vote are their hopes and aspirations for the future. But also embedded in that vote are the trust and the confidence they gave to you to take them to that aspirational future. And that is why, to have received over 31M million votes from our countrymen is as valuable an expression of trust as can be had by anyone in public life and for that I thank our people. and beyond that, I promised you that we may not be perfect bit we will always strive for perfection.”
Sotto and Velasco formally called Marcos Jr. to the rostrum at 6:29 p.m. for his proclamation.
Marcos and wife Liza Araneta-Marcos went first, followed by his sisters Irene Marcos-Araneta and Sen. Imee Marcos who was assisted by her nephew Simon Marcos.
Last to go up was Imelda Romualdez-Marcos who negotiated the few steps, assisted on two sides by nephew House majority leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and grandson Simon, who met her at the bottom of the stairs.
With the widow of the former strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at his right side, the President-elect was officially proclaimed at 6:32 p.m.
With the ceremony over, Marcos Jr. turned to his mother, gave her a hug, and a quick peck on her right cheek.
Malacañang urged the public to rally behind the country’s new leaders
Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said the Congress’ proclamation ceremony marks another historic milestone in the country’s political life and is considered as a “showcase and beacon of democracy in this part of the world.”
Andanar also reaffirmed Malacañang’s commitment to ensure a peaceful, orderly and smooth transfer of powers to the next administration.
President Duterte has named Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as chairman of the transition committee that would oversee the transfer of power to the next administration.
Duterte-Carpio is expected to hold her oath taking and inauguration as the 15th vice president near the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City ahead of the June 30 inauguration of Marcos. It was previously reported to be tentatively set for June 19.
Duterte-Carpio said she will attend the inauguration and oath taking of Marcos on June 30.
A venue for Marcos’ inauguration, however, has yet to be decided as the Quirino Grandstand — which has been used in most presidential inauguration- is unavailable as it is currently being used as a COVID-19 isolation center.
The League of Filipino Students, among the protesting groups, said least 10 protesters were hurt in the confrontation.
The LFS expressed alarmed and condemned what it said was a “violent attempt” of the PNP to “disperse the peaceful assembly” at the vicinity of the CHR.
“Police clad in full riot gear pushed back protesters using shields and batons. A fire truck at the scene also bombarded the activists using a water cannon,” the LFS said in a statement.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said there were around 500 protesters.
“The police violently blocked around 500 protesters from stepping out of the Commission on Human Rights, and used two water cannons to disperse the protest march, 14 activists were hurt and wounded during the dispersal,” Bayan said in a statement.
“Despite the violence and threats of arrests, activists were able to regroup and asserted their right to assemble and hold a protest,” it added.
“We will continue to challenge and resist police violence as we enjoin all freedom-loving Filipinos to defy the looming tyranny of Marcos-Duterte and defend our democratic rights,” said Bayan.
Bayan spokesman Raymond Palatino said protesters began their assembly at around 10 a.m. at the CHR area where about 150 policemen were deployed.
At around 11 a.m., Palatino said policemen water cannon on the protesters.
“They failed to stop us, our program. We asserted (our right), we held our program there. Their deployment is uncalled for and overkill,” said Palatino.
Palatino said 14 protesters were injured during the confrontation. “We documented 14 (injured), these are the only ones needing attention of our health volunteers… But there could be more (who were injured) be more who were hurt,” he said.
Palatino said they indeed planned to proceed to Batasan complex to hold a protest rally.
Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina said they “managed” the protesters when they attempted to “illegally occupy” Commonwealth Avenue.
“Based on the report, more or less 200 individuals gathered at the CHR premises to head towards the House of Representatives South gates to protest against the canvassing of votes and proclamation of the newly-elected president and vice president of the Republic of the Philippines,” the QCPD said in a statement.
The QCPD said the protesters were later allowed to hold their rally “in accordance with their program while the traffic situation along Commonwealth Avenue remained fast moving and the members of the National Board of Canvassers and their support staff arrived on time to the House of Congress to fulfil their constitutionally mandated tasks.”
The Commission on Human Rights it has deployed investigators to monitor the protest.
CHINA ISSUE
Outgoing senator Panfilo Lacson said it would do well for the next administration to strengthen the country’s alliance with the United States and other like-minded countries amid the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
Lacson, who ran and lost in the May 9 presidential race, said such a move would also ensure peace and stability not only in the disputed waterway but in the entire region.
“In the advent of the sovereignty and territorial integrity issues fast developing in the West Philippines Sea, there couldn’t be a better move by the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. than strengthen our alliance not only with the US but with other like minded developed countries like the European Union, Australia, Japan and Canada,” Lacson told reporters.
“This will help preserve the peace and stability in the South China Sea and the entire Indo-China region,” he added.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are claiming parts of the South China Sea while China is claiming the whole of it.
All the claimant-countries, except Brunei, maintain forces in the areas they are claiming, although in recent years, Beijing was the most aggressive, building military facilities on artificial islands it built in the area, including three located within Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Beijing also continues to refuse to honor the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a case brought by Manila dismissing its sweeping claims in the area under the so-called nine dash line. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Ashzel Hachero
