A Marcos praising a Diokno: Sandro lauds Chel’s performance at impeach trial

Graphics by Marian Hukom/Rappler Sandro Marcos' public kudos of Chel Diokno is interesting, given their families' history They may have been enemies in Philippines politics — the Marcoses and Dioknos — but Majority Leader Sandro Marcos is happy to give Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno props for his performance at Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial so far. Marcos, the President’s son, said: “You’ve seen Congressman Chel Diokno, he’s very good.” Marcos’ comment on Monday, July 27, ahead of his father’s State of the Nation Address, was prompted by a question on his level of involvement behind the scenes in the prosecution’s team preparations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son denied any hand in the prosecution team’s operations, adding that the prosecutors are already “brilliant in their own way.” For the record, Congressman Marcos singled out Diokno and lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro in the 11-man panel for their presentations so far at the impeachment court. Sandro’s commendation of Diokno, however, is interesting, given their families’ history. Chel Diokno’s father is former senator and justice secretary Jose W. Diokno, a leading critic of the Martial Law of Sandro’s grandfather, late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. Diokno spent nearly two years in detention despite the lack of any charge against him. After his release, Jose Diokno continued to be a political foe of the elder Marcos, and after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he became the founding chairman of the agency that preceded what is now known as the Commission on Human Rights. Sandro’s comment about Chel on present day indicates a number of things — that Chel’s razor-sharp legal skills were difficult to deny, and in politics, two historical foes with a common enemy can sometimes be on the same side. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading