Student leaders of the Philippines said Friday they were opposing the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte for president and vice president, respectively, saying this could lead to the country slipping back under dictator rule.
The only son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr has tapped the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte as running mate on his path to reclaim Malacañang. They recently got the endorsement of parties associated with former Presidents Gloria Arroyo, Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos.
“Walang pinagkaiba si Bongbong at Sara sa pagiging tiwali at pagkakaroon ng potensyal na maging diktátor din tulad ng kanilang ama," said the student councils of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, University of the East Manila, and National University.
The UST Central Student Council released the joint statement.
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Marcos Jr. is seeking the presidency even as the government pursues to recover some $10 billion in ill-gotten wealth plundered during his father's dictatorship. He is facing four petitions calling for his disqualification from the presidential race.
For the younger Duterte, her foray into national politics has courted criticism as her father faces the International Criminal Court's investigation into possible crimes against humanity under his bloody war on drugs.
“Saksi ang aming mga unibersidad sa kalupitan ng regiment Marcos at Duterte lalo na sa paglabag nito sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mga mag-aaral at mamamayang Pilipino," the student councils said.
For the upcoming elections, the student leaders urged the public to elevate the discourse on socio-political issues and shun the spread of misleading and false information.
“Sa darating na halalan, dapat walang plataporma sina Marcos at Duterte,” they said.
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