Duterte: Imee, Bongbong shouldn't be blamed for sins of Marcos dictatorship

The children should not be persecuted for the sins of their father.

President Rodrigo Duterte made this clear as he defended Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos from critics of the dictatorship of their late father Ferdinand Marcos.

"Hindi naman ito organized crime na basta bigla ka na lang mag-ano diyan. Guilt is personal. ‘Yung kasalanan mo, ‘yun lang.  Hindi mo ipahid doon sa lahat ng barangay," he said in an interview that aired on state-run People's Television on Friday

The interview was taped on Tuesday in Malacañang.

Duterte also argued that Imee and Bongbong were still young during the Marcos regime.

"Ngayon, sabihin mo na, 'You prosecute, you punish.' At that time, si Bongbong Marcos, binata pa. He was only about seven years old when… Anong kasalanan nila? Bakit hindi ako magpunta, mag-shake hands? Anong kasalanan ni Imee? Bata ‘yan sila lahat.  Ang matanda lang doon si Imelda pati si Ferdinand," he said.

Duterte has courted controversy for his apparent closeness with the Marcos family, often crediting Imee for supporting his presidential run. He has also noted his father's stint in the former president's Cabinet.

Last year, Duterte's decision to allow the burial of the remains of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani led to a series of protests across the country. —JST, GMA News