Ex-DILG chief Alunan to Imee, Bongbong: Rise above family interest, acknowledge Martial Law abuses

Senatorial candidate Rafael Alunan III on Tuesday challenged Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos and  vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr to rise above their family's interest and acknowledge the mistakes of Martial Law.

In an interview with News To Go as part of its "Oplan E-Leksyon: The Senatorial Interviews," Alunan said he has known both Imee and Bongbong as good public servants.

"I know Bongbong and Imee, I know Imee more, I've seen them as good public servants. There is one thing that I would like to request from them, we need to bring closure to an  open wound that hasn't been closed," he said.

"They should rise above, maybe, their family interest to look after the national interest. Ang hinihingi ko po ay acknowledgment of the mistakes of the past. If we don't acknowledge the mistakes of the past, we are bound to repeat it," added Alunan, who headed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the Ramos administration.

The Marcos family has repeatedly refused to apologize for the abuses committed during the Martial Law when the country was under the control of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

During the interview, Alunan was asked if he thinks President Benigno Aquino III has accountability on the Mamasapano incident, which resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force commandos.

"Yes," Alunan said, adding that since Aquino is the police force's commander-in chief, the "chain of command principle applies."

Alunan is an independent senatorial candidate but he was adopted by the tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as part of their senatorial slate.  —Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News