Marcos: No reason to revise history; textbooks are 'factual'


President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said there was no reason for him to revise history, particularly in the era when their family was infamously linked, since he recognized the problems and abuses that happened back then.

Old photos of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos. (Bongbong Marcos Instagram)

Marcos said this in his interview with one of his biggest supporters, TV host and actress Toni Gonzaga, aired over ALLTV on his 65th birthday on September 13.

During the interview, Marcos addressed the issue constantly being hurled at him. Critics have been accusing him of using his return to Malacañang to bury the atrocities that happened when his late namesake father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, declared Martial Law.

According to the President, there was no reason to revise history since his family recognized the dark side of his father's regime.

"We recognize naman the problems that happened, the abuses that occurred like in any war. All of these things are some things that are already part of history," he said.

"We have no—there's no reason to revise history," he added.

Amnesty International's data showed there were over 3,200 extrajudicial killings during Martial Law. There were also about 70,000 who were imprisoned and 35,000 who were tortured.

In an interview with TV host Boy Abunda early this year, Marcos said the international watchdog should share their data.

"Let us ask Amnesty International to share that information that they have, and maybe it will help us make sure that the system works and what alleged abuses occurred should not occur again," he said in January.

"I think that's the only way that we can remedy that situation," he added.

Meanwhile, President Marcos said in Tuesday's interview that he has no intention of changing textbooks, although he might still do so if "they're wrong."

"Only if they're wrong. Factual naman, eh (They're factual anyway)," he said.

"You can check facts. Let's talk about facts, not political opinion," he added.

Marcos, however, reiterated that his family could prove all their claims.

"Lahat ng aming sinasabi kaya naming patunayan. Kaya paano nagiging revision of history (We can prove everything we've said. So how is that a revising history)?" he said.

Earlier, Marcos' sister, Senator Imee Marcos, rejected allegations that their family was seeking to revise history, saying they just wanted to "tell their side of the story."