Imee Marcos asks forgiveness for 'wrongs' of her late father
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos has appealed to the critics of her father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, to forgive him for whatever wrong he did during his twodecade rule, GMA News reported yesterday.
Speaking at a dinner celebration for the former leader's 99th birth anniversary in Ilocos Norte, Imee said her father was only human and prone to mistakes.
"Anuman ang kasalanan ng aking ama sapagkat hindi naman niya kailanman sinabi na siya ay hindi tao lamang na nagkakamali at nagkakasala," Imee said in a report on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali."
"Sana sa kabila nito, mahanap na rin nila ang kapatawaran sapagkat sa pagpapatawad sa aking ama, sa pagpapatawad, sana mapawi na rin ang galit nila at sila mismo ay mabigyan ng kapayapaan," she added.
Sought for comment, a Martial Law victim said there can only be forgiveness if the Marcoses at least acknowledge the atrocities committed during the dictatorship.
"Ang kondisyon naman sa pagpapatawad ay una ay umaamin ka eh. Umamin na ba sila? Sila mismo hindi nila inaamin eh at pilit nila sinasabi na walang kasalanan ang mga Marcos. Wala naman daw silang katiwalian na ginawa," said Crisanto Palabay, who hails from the Ilocos region where the Marcoses continue to wield power and command adulation.
Marcos had been accused of committing massive human rights violations and amassing ill-gotten wealth during his 20-year reign, reasons his critics said should be enough to convince the Supreme Court to deny him a space at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The Marcoses declined to talk at length about the case although they hoped for the issue to be resolved soon.
The dictator's widow, Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, also believed that "truth and justice will eventually prevail," hopefully in her husband's favor.