Malacañang on Tuesday shrugged off accusations by the group Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (Carmma) that President Duterte was using his power to help members of the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos regain a political foothold.

“In our democracy, it is the people who elect their leaders,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, a former human rights lawyer.

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“It’s the people who elected the Marcoses back to power,” Roque said.

Aside from Imelda Marcos, now Ilocos Norte representative, her daughter, Imee, is currently the governor of the same province.

Not appointees

“The President has neither appointed any of them, nor has he campaigned for any of the Marcoses,” Roque said in a text message.

Carmma leaders said Mr. Duterte had allowed the Marcoses to flourish under his administration despite refusing to apologize for wrongdoing during martial law.

“Duterte has, no doubt, played a big role in the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, a Carmma leader.

The President wanted the Marcoses back for a reason—to enter into an “ideal partnership,” said Enriquez.

Symbiotic

“Marcos needs Duterte’s popularity, while Duterte needs Marcos to absolve him of his crimes once he steps down,” she said, citing Mr. Duterte’s repeated statements he was ready to step down if he would be replaced by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

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She denounced what she said was political posturing by two children of the late dictator—Bongbong and Imee, currently governor of Ilocos Norte.

Imee recently drew flak for suggesting martial law victims of her generation should learn to “move on,” adding that millennials had already forgotten the sins of martial law.

Bongbong came to her sister’s defense, saying he understood his sister’s sentiment over “something that happened 32 years ago.”

In a recent interview, Bongbong said he was “ready for the presidency,” following Mr. Duterte’s pronouncement that he was willing to step down so long as Marcos replaced him.—WITH A REPORT FROM MELVIN GASCON

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