Manila: The senator-son and namesake of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos urged government officials to work harder, stop being vindictive to past leaders, and aim for better government services and development so that the Philippines can catch up with neighbours in southeast Asia.
"We need to change the politics of this country. Our leaders cannot be forever squabbling, engaging in vindictiveness, wasting of energy and government resources in putting each other down at the expense of those that need help the most," Marcos Junior said in his Facebook account.
"Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the hungry," he said.
The senator did not direct his call to President Benigno Aquino, whose anti-corruption campaign has been hinged on the conviction of former President Gloria Arroyo for alleged election fraud and the impeachment of Supreme Court's Chief Justice Renato Corona.
"Before it's too late, let us all roll up our sleeves and get to work for the betterment of our country, for all and not just for some," Marcos said. "Excuses cannot substitute for performance and results. Promises without delivery only feed the anger of the people.
People's attitudes
"If there is need for change in people's attitudes and habits, let that change begin with ourselves. There is no argument more eloquently made than the one made by example."
Twenty-six years after a people-backed military mutiny ousted his father and propped to power Corazon Aquino in 1986, the young Marcos said the Philippines must still measure her development with neighbours.
"Has poverty been alleviated? Is the wealth of the country more equitably distributed? Do we have more jobs available at home? Has there been a rise in the quality of our education? Are we self-sufficient in our daily food requirements? Is there less hunger? Crime? Insurgency? Corruption? Basic services? Health?
"China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia can all point to the progress they have made these last 26 years," Marcos said.
