President-elect Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III vowed Thursday his administration’s brand of democracy will be one that defends even the rights of his enemies, and where prosecution of corrupt officials will be dictated by law and not by personal grudge. Aquino made the declaration in an exclusive interview in CNN Talk Asia aired Thursday night, where the questions fielded centered on how he plans to go after the outgoing President, in light of widespread allegations of corruption against her, and also after the Marcoses who were his family’s bitter political rival more than two decades ago. “It will not be [to] file charges against somebody who's a political opponent and then try to find evidence afterward. We should afford them the processes that were not utilized in our case. We have to prove that we are different from them," Aquino told CNN reporter Arwa Damon. This is the “true test of democracy," said Aquino — the only son of the late democracy icons former President Corazon Aquino and staunch martial law critic Sen. Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr. — who once again referred to his parents’ legacy. He thus promised to go against those who committed corruption within the government, including, he says, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Prosecution, however, will only be pursued “so long as the evidence is warranted," Aquino explained. He also referred to the rigidities of the law when asked about going after the Marcoses, in light of the “sins" they committed against the President-elect’s family during martial law, when his father was assassinated by aviation security troops just minutes after he arrived in the country after three years of self-exile in the US. “Our laws prohibit filing of charges against people who have not been charged after 20 years," Aquino said when asked about how he would deal with the Marcoses who have apparently made a decisive comeback in Philippine politics. Imelda Marcos, wife of Ninoy’s greatest foe former President Ferdinand Marcos, has been elected as Ilocos Norte representative, while siblings Ferdinand “Bongbong" Jr. and Ma. Imelda “Imee" Marcos were elected senator and Ilocos Norte governor, respectively. The President-elect added that he is ready to support the Marcoses for as long as they aspire for the betterment of the people, but will be the first to oppose attempts at bringing back the dark years of military rule. “The only interest I have is to make sure that there is no revisionism down the line lest we make the same mistakes," Aquino explained. He holds no grudges against the Marcos siblings, Aquino also said. "As far as the children are concerned, I think I am in the same boat as they are. We are all victims of the rule of their parents, the only difference is that that I recognize it and they don’t," said Aquino. When asked what he would tell his parents if they were alive to witness his victory, Aquino did not mince words in basking in his new-found glory. “I'd probably say, aren't you proud of your favorite son? Aren't you glad you have a son like me?" Aquino quipped.—JV
