Cayetano attacks Bongbong on ill-gotten wealth

ABS-CBN News

From the $10 billion alleged loot of the Marcoses to his absence during corruption inquiries, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. received the brunt of attacks during the start of the PiliPinas debate for vice-presidential bets in the 2016 polls.

Marcos, son and namesake of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was heckled just as he was about to give his opening statement in the debate.

As he prepared to deliver his opening statement, anti-Marcos hecklers shouted "Never again to Martial Law!" before they were escorted out of the venue.

In turn, Marcos supporters shouted "BBM!"

Bongbong heckled at VP debate
 

Marcos then received the second jeering of the night when asked how he would fight corruption if elected. Marcos said the anti-corruption drive must be applied on both friend and foe.

He was interrupted by boos when he claimed that he has never been accused of corruption in his 27 years of public service.

"Sa 27-taong aking paninilbihan, maipagmamalaki ko po na wala tayong bahid ng korapsyon. Itong record po na ito ay ipapagpatuloy ko sa darating na panahon..." he said, pausing slightly as boos erupted.

WATCH: Marcos claims he's not corrupt, gets booed

Congresswoman Leni Robredo, the Liberal Party vice-presidential candidate, said those committed to the fight against corruption should have no hint of corruption.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, however, leveled the fiercest attacks against Marcos, saying that $10 billion was stolen by the Marcos family during the martial law rule of his father.

"$10 billion ang nanakaw nung panahon nila. P450 billion. Nung isang linggo lang po, nagulat ako P205 million nalagay sa [Janet] Napoles na mga NGO. Pork barrel yun hindi ng tatay niya pero siya. Kung iyon hindi pa bahid [pulitika] yun, hintayin niyo maging vice-president siya. Baka maging 100 bilyong dolyar na ang mawala sa atin," he said.

Marcos said that Cayetano's huge numbers have no basis. "Nagtataka ako kung saan kinuha ang napakalaking numero na sinasabi niya," he said.

He said Cayetano has never mentioned anything to him about corruption even though they are both members of the Senate.

He also pointed out that any form of evidence of corruption against him would definitely be used by the present administration "because I am a Marcos and the President is an Aquino."

Cayetano pointed out that Marcos' allocation of his priority development assistance funds to Napoles foundations started in 2011. He also denied that there is no basis for the numbers on ill-gotten wealth, pointing out that the Presidential Commission on Good Government has already recovered some of the ill-gotten wealth.

"Hindi totoo na walang basehan ang numero, 4 billion dollars na ho, dalawang bilyong piso ang na-recover ng PCGG," he said.

He then pointed to Commission on Elections Chairman Andy Bautista who is the former head of the PCGG. "Hindi ko alam kung sa akin siya natatawa o kay Senator Bongbong," he said.

Cayetano said the Philippine government is still fighting the Marcos family to reclaim $1 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth.

He also said Marcos' wealth has grown to P500 million even though he is not working anywhere except government. "Saan mo kukunin ang ganung kalaking pera?"

Marcos again said there are no documents that would confirm his allegations even as the crowd again started to jeer. He pointed out the allegations are the subject of court cases.

"Hindi naman maliwanag kung sa amin galing yun o saan galing yun," he said.

Cayetano then reminded the crowd about an interview of former First Lady Imelda Marcos who claimed that the Marcoses "practically own the Philippines."

He also pointed out that Senator Marcos has never appeared in a single congressional hearing that tackled corruption.

"Kahit anong isyu sa corruption, wala siya doon," he said.

READ: Life under Marcos: A fact-check
 

CORRUPTION, ABUSES

The Marcos family has long been dogged by accusations the dictator oversaw massive human rights abuses and plundered billions of dollars from state coffers until a famous "people power" revolt toppled him from power in 1986.

Human rights groups say tens of thousands endured torture and imprisonment during the elder Marcos's 20-year rule.

After the Marcos patriarch died in exile in Hawaii in 1989, the family returned to the country in 1991 and began a successful political comeback, culminating in Bongbong Marcos getting elected to the Senate in 2010.

The younger Marcos has been criticized for refusing to apologize for the injustices committed during his father's dictatorship.

READ: Bongbong on Marcos era: What am I to say sorry for? 

The 58-year-old, an incumbent senator, denies his family stole from government coffers and insists his father's rule was one of peace and progress.