Partido Lakas ng Masa senatorial bet Luke Espiritu rebutted the statements of Atty. Harry Roque and Atty. Larry Gadon about the Marcos family during the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) senatorial debate on Wednesday, March 2.
Gadon pointed out, “Wala na kayong ginawa kundi manira kay Marcos, kay Bongbong. Kung anu-anong mga kalokohan martial law kayo, mga pari kayo. Dapat ang ituro niyo yung kagandahang-asal, hindi yung pamumulitika!”
“Palagi na lang pino-point out ‘yung human rights violations ni Marcos. …We should not use this forum for a propaganda against the Marcoses,” Gadon said.
However, Espiritu countered Gadon’s statements by saying, “’Pag binuksan mo ang usapan, ‘wag mo akong pagbawalan,” Espiritu rebutted. “I go by the record of Amnesty International –3,257 ang pinatay noong panahon ni Marcos.”
Gadon tried to interrupt Espiritu but the latter.
“It’s my time, ‘wag kang bastos,” Espiritu repeatedly told Gadon.
Roque then assured that he found no faults against Marcos based on the records he studied.
“…Kung anuman ang nangyari sa nakaraan, inisa-isa ko ang record, walang record sa America si Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” Roque said.
To this, Espiritu retorted: “With all due respect …I know your history, you were anti-Marcos before, you were for human rights before.”
Roque and Gadon are both parts of the senatorial lineup under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte.
Espiritu earned praises and criticisms following his statements during the SMNI debate.
Here are some reactions from the netizens:
SMNI has made a star out of Luke Espiritu. https://t.co/feqIaPiHZU
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) March 3, 2022
Kaya tama si Atty Espiritu pic.twitter.com/nRfGUHXSdl
— ERod Ave (@olsenson) March 3, 2022
An image you can hear
(Not mine, courtesy to its owner) pic.twitter.com/7MnyBNrMY3— Hanash Daily #KikoBam2025 #HeidiSonny2025 (@BIENsays) March 3, 2022
Mahalagang alamin ang context ng debate nila Gadon, Roque at Espiritu. Si Gadon ang out of topic. Isinawsaw niya ang Marcos sa usapan na siyang sinagot ni Espiritu, Obviously, ginamit nila Gadon at Roque ang debate para mapabango si Marcos Jr pero alerto at magaling si Espiritu. pic.twitter.com/L60pRmAMwm
— #PunchTheLies🤛 (@PunchTheLies) March 3, 2022
Nakahanap ng katapat si Roque at Gadon. Ang saya😅
— DocHappy🩷💚🎗️ (@DocHappy95) March 3, 2022
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/rxMxLCkpJI
— Nuelle⁷🪷🍉 (@nuelleduterte) March 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/_bryanmarco01/status/1499046604917342209?s=20&t=NmiOiQ5fY4DzCDK6nF3bYg
