Sorsogon City- Catholic Bishop Arturo Bastes believes Sen. Bongbong Marcos is using government money in his campaign for the vice-presidency which gives him an edge in the electoral race.

In an exclusive interview with Bicol News at the sidelines of the regional launching of the  Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA) here today, Bastes said Marcos’ campaign is being funded by the money which his family stole from government coffers during the reign of the senator’s father and namesake, former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos.

He described as lie Marcos’ statement that the martial law years were golden years for the Philippines saying that in truth and in fact it was the darkest era in the country’s history, claiming that he, too, was a victim of the dictatorship.

Bastes said he was then assigned as diocesan pastoral coordinator of Surigao when he was listed among the top three personalities subject for liquidation by the military for being vocal against the martial law. “We were then living in fear and one of our pastoral workers, Lito Mahinay, who was suspected of being a communist, simply disappeared while doing Bible teaching among the Lumads.”

He said that as a sign of protest against the martial law, there was a time that the diocese of Surigao did not celebrate Palm Sunday. A big number of priests and lay workers fell victim to the reign of terror.

Bastes said Bongbong Marcos should be held accountable for the atrocities of the martial law as he also benefited hugely from the reign of his father.

“The Marcoses stole billions of dollars from the government, which he (Bongbong) now uses to fund his campaign that’s why he does not need financial support,” he added.

The prelate lamented the lack of knowledge by the present generation about the cruelty of the late Pres. Marcos whose son is attempting to make a political comeback.

He thanked the movers of CARMMA for initiating the campaign to oppose the return of the Marcoses to Malacañang as he urged the public to join the movement.

Many other victims of the martial law gave their testimonies during the launch about how they suffered under the martial law regime. (bicolnews.com.ph)

SOURCE: http://www.bicolnews.com.ph/news/sorsogon-bishop-marcos-using-stolen-money-to-fund-campaign.html