Atienza wants two-party system restored to prevent candidates like Marcos Jr.

Vice presidential aspirant Lito Atienza on Monday proposed the return of the two-party system, saying it would prevent candidates like Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from running for president.

In an episode of The Mangahas Interviews Special Election Series, the Buhay party-list representative the two-party system would "restore the element of decency and integrity in running for public office."

The running mate of Senator Manny Pacquiao asked presidential aspirant Marcos where his money came from.

"I would like to ask one candidate today, Bongbong Marcos,  ano negosyo niya? Saan siya nagtatrabaho? Ano kinikita niya? Ba't ang dami-dami niyang perang ginagastos? Walang kontrol saan nanggagaling 'yan," Atienza told journalist Malou Mangahas.

"Kung may party system tayo, sa partido palang susuriin na 'yan, hindi lulusot 'yan. Pero ngayon kandidato na, leading candidate pa kuno," he added.

Atienza indicated that the system nowadays opened doors to wealthy candidates regardless of their qualifications.

"We have to change the system, restore the two-party system, restore the element of decency and integrity in running for public office dahil kung wala 'yong strong party system, anybody can run," Atienza said.

"Anybody with money can run, hindi na kailangan pag-aralan pa at wala na magsusuri diyan sa mga 'yan," he added.

"'Pag pasok nila, trak-trak na pera ang dala, lahat ng pinto nagbubukas then presidential candidate na siya," Atienza said.

GMA News Online reached out to Marcos' camp for comment but has yet to receive a reply. 

Source of poverty

Atienza also blamed poverty in the Philippines to the dictatorship of the presidential aspirant's father and namesake and his Martial Law regime.

"Ang simula niyan ay yung martial law. Yung uncontrolled dictatorship where all the cronies deprived us of better lives," Atienza said.

"Our natural resources were monopolized by a few people. Hindi pinakinabangan ng milyun-milyong Pilipino. Ang paghihirap natin ngayon, kelangan i-ugat natin sa pinanggalingan. Martial Law, dictatorship, Marcos," he added. —NB, GMA News