President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday recalled the tight bond between his family and that of the late brilliant President Ferdinand Marcos.
Spotting Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos at the Third Sulong Pilipinas Convention at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, the President remembered that she was one of the few politicians who supported him during the campaign.
"My father was a Cabinet member of President Marcos during the first term of his presidency. My father was one of the two who stood by Marcos during the darkest hours. Everybody was shifting to Liberal at that time, kay Diosdado Macapagal," the President explained.
Vicente Duterte was the Secretary of General Services during Marcos' time. But he served as the mayor of Danao, Cebu and as the governor of the undivided Davao before taking the Cabinet position.
"That is why when he won, my father was one of the Cabinet members of Marcos. So iyan ang ano naming… That is why I cannot disassociate my… Besides, si [presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor] Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, iyong mga Carpio, taga-Paoay. May anak na ako na Ilokano. Siyempre mahirap na, dugo iyan eh. So may connect na--blood is blood," Duterte also noted.
Duterte was referring to his daughter's husband, Attorney Mans Carpio, the nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
During the campaign period, he announced that he would allow the burial of the late dictator in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.