Imee blames FVR for martial law abuses
BAGUIO CITY – Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos blamed former president Fidel Ramos, who was chief of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) during the Marcos regime, as the one behind the martial law abuses.
“Ask Ramos,” said Marcos, the eldest daughter of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, when she was asked who was to blame for the human rights abuses during martial law.
Ramos led the PC, a major service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, before it merged with the Integrated National Police, forerunner of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
He allegedly directed abuses committed by the PC in provinces, particularly in Samar and Leyte.
In an earlier television interview, Imee Marcos said, “Mayroon daw nagsasabi na kailangang (some are saying that there should be an) admission of guilt. Parang ang bigat naman kasi (it’s really hard) I’m not aware of any policy or any presidential order saying na kailangang gawin itong mga karumal-dumal na krimen (that there is a need for those heinous crimes).”
“In my heart, if in any way you have hurt someone, you should say sorry even if it’s not intentional, even if it was not policy. OK lang naman sa’kin, pero yung (it’s alright but this) admission of guilt.. unang-una, ang liit-liit ko noon. Paano ko i-a-admit, hindi ko naman alam (first of all I was still small then, how could I admit something I don’t know)?” added the younger Marcos.
Even former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Ferdinand Marcos’ defense secretary wrote in his autobiography, “I was the administrator of martial law. The powers of martial law were delegated to me. Any abuse of martial law was my responsibility.”
Ramos was president from 1992 to 1998, and he forged the 1992 deal with the Marcos family to return the dictator’s remains from Hawaii to Ilocos Norte and have him buried there.
But Imee said Ramos’ then interior secretary Rafael Alunan said, “The deal was not like an agreement that binds the government of the Philippines. This is a kasunduan (agreement) between the Ppresident and the Marcos family, our understanding ended when we left government.”
Alunan said that incumbent President Duterte has the right to have Marcos’ remains interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
The Supreme Court (SC) had ruled 9-5-1 allowing the burial of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery, the governor said.
SC defers final decision
The SC has deferred action on the plea of two lawmakers to temporarily suspend the burial of Marcos at the Libingan until the finality of its decision last week allowing the interment.
The motions filed by petitioner Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Bayan party-list representative Satur Ocampo were included in the agenda of the high court’s session yesterday, but were not resolved due to absence of four justices, according to an insider.
The source said the high tribunal then decided to reset deliberations to next Tuesday.
Both Lagman and Ocampo asked the high court to consider reissuing its status quo ante order enjoining the government from implementing President Duterte’s order for the Marcos burial to give way to the resolution of the appeal they intend to file.
As alternative, they urged the SC to instead advise the respondents Armed Forces of the Philippines or Department of National Defense not to implement the order yet until the SC ruling becomes final.
The Marcos family has reportedly not set a specific date for the burial after getting the go-signal from the SC.
In its decision last Nov. 8, the high court said the order of Duterte for the Marcos burial is well within his presidential power provided under Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution.
The ruling penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta held that Marcos possessed the qualifications to be interred at the Libingan as a “former president and commander-in-chief, a legislator, a secretary of national defense, a military personnel, a veteran and a Medal of Valor awardee.”
The SC ruled that there is no law prohibiting Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Regardless of what others will say, the Army said Marcos would be accorded with full military honors once he is buried at the Libingan at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, said yesterday that higher authorities had issued an order that the late strongman be provided with interment honors befitting a president.
“Ask Ramos,” said Marcos, the eldest daughter of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, when she was asked who was to blame for the human rights abuses during martial law.
Ramos led the PC, a major service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, before it merged with the Integrated National Police, forerunner of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
He allegedly directed abuses committed by the PC in provinces, particularly in Samar and Leyte.
In an earlier television interview, Imee Marcos said, “Mayroon daw nagsasabi na kailangang (some are saying that there should be an) admission of guilt. Parang ang bigat naman kasi (it’s really hard) I’m not aware of any policy or any presidential order saying na kailangang gawin itong mga karumal-dumal na krimen (that there is a need for those heinous crimes).”
“In my heart, if in any way you have hurt someone, you should say sorry even if it’s not intentional, even if it was not policy. OK lang naman sa’kin, pero yung (it’s alright but this) admission of guilt.. unang-una, ang liit-liit ko noon. Paano ko i-a-admit, hindi ko naman alam (first of all I was still small then, how could I admit something I don’t know)?” added the younger Marcos.
Even former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Ferdinand Marcos’ defense secretary wrote in his autobiography, “I was the administrator of martial law. The powers of martial law were delegated to me. Any abuse of martial law was my responsibility.”
Ramos was president from 1992 to 1998, and he forged the 1992 deal with the Marcos family to return the dictator’s remains from Hawaii to Ilocos Norte and have him buried there.
But Imee said Ramos’ then interior secretary Rafael Alunan said, “The deal was not like an agreement that binds the government of the Philippines. This is a kasunduan (agreement) between the Ppresident and the Marcos family, our understanding ended when we left government.”
Alunan said that incumbent President Duterte has the right to have Marcos’ remains interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
The Supreme Court (SC) had ruled 9-5-1 allowing the burial of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery, the governor said.
SC defers final decision
The SC has deferred action on the plea of two lawmakers to temporarily suspend the burial of Marcos at the Libingan until the finality of its decision last week allowing the interment.
The motions filed by petitioner Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Bayan party-list representative Satur Ocampo were included in the agenda of the high court’s session yesterday, but were not resolved due to absence of four justices, according to an insider.
The source said the high tribunal then decided to reset deliberations to next Tuesday.
Both Lagman and Ocampo asked the high court to consider reissuing its status quo ante order enjoining the government from implementing President Duterte’s order for the Marcos burial to give way to the resolution of the appeal they intend to file.
As alternative, they urged the SC to instead advise the respondents Armed Forces of the Philippines or Department of National Defense not to implement the order yet until the SC ruling becomes final.
The Marcos family has reportedly not set a specific date for the burial after getting the go-signal from the SC.
In its decision last Nov. 8, the high court said the order of Duterte for the Marcos burial is well within his presidential power provided under Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution.
The ruling penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta held that Marcos possessed the qualifications to be interred at the Libingan as a “former president and commander-in-chief, a legislator, a secretary of national defense, a military personnel, a veteran and a Medal of Valor awardee.”
The SC ruled that there is no law prohibiting Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Regardless of what others will say, the Army said Marcos would be accorded with full military honors once he is buried at the Libingan at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, said yesterday that higher authorities had issued an order that the late strongman be provided with interment honors befitting a president.
