Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has called on the public to stop categorizing indigenous peoples (IPs) as second class citizens as they are also entitled to benefits like all Filipinos have.
Marcos Jr. made the remark on Tuesday, Dec. 21 after holding a Christmas gift-giving to members of Aeta communities from Pampanga and Tarlac at Marcos Village gymnasium in Pampanga.
"We must remember that indigenous Filipinos ang mga unang Pilipino at matagal na natin silang tinutulungan, mula pa noong panahon ng Tatay ko (are the first Filipinos. And we've been helping them since during my father's administration)," he said.
Marcos Jr. also said that what we have to do "is stop categorizing them as second class citizens" and that "they should have all the rights and benefits that all Filipinos have."
He said that even his father, late dictator and former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, would always give importance to IPs by promoting their rights and welfare.
During his visit to the province, Marcos Jr. gave away as Christmas gifts around 500 toys to 300 children from Barangay Marcos Village and to 200 children from the Aeta Indigenous Cultural Communities from Mabalacat City, Pampanga and from Tarlac. He also distributed 500 food packs to the residents.