By Raïssa Robles
Coming from the dentist yesterday, the last thing I expected was a phone call from former President Fidel Ramos.
We talked for nearly two hours about how, a year into his presidency, he allowed Marcos’ body to be brought back to the Philippines under certain preconditions. We also talked about other things which he repeatedly told me were “more important” than the Marcos issue.
To do justice to what he said, I will write about our conversation after I transcribe the extensive notes I took by hand.
For now, I can say that Ramos opened the conversation by saying – “Your story is fairly accurate.”
He was referring to my article – Marcoses broke promise to bury FM’s body at once in Ilocos – Fidel Ramos
Rallie F. Cruz says
In that aspect, I know that Pres. Ramos will never lie about the issue. His decision regarding the body of Marcos was just right and proper for the sentiments of the Filipino people affected during the dictators regime.
With the mentality of the Filipinos in general as the easy to forgive and forget nature has been taken advantage by many opportunists for their political agenda and the intention to completely erase from the memories the most ugliest part of our history.
By having accomplish that, it means that the next generation will not even know that there was such a man who made our country so desolate that no one yet is able to bring us where we should be as a nation.
ria says
Hi Raissa,
I took the liberty of cutting and pasting Bong Bong’s reply when I showed him this article.
@riaroxas Oh, the guy who defended GMA when her rule was nearly toppled over owing to the Garci scandal among others? I remember him. He was head of the Philippine Constabulary, said to be the most corrupt military agency during my father’s time. His father also served as Sec of Foreign Affairs of my father. He was a high ranking officer (Vice Chief of Staff) during martial law but suddenly “realized” a week before the military backed uprising, that the leadership he had supported for decades wasn’t as splendid as he had imagined all those years, decades. He then battled Mitra for the nomination of his political party’s presidential contender and when he lost, he decided to bolt it (like a true officer and a gentleman would never do) and hastily put up his own party and went on to “win” the presidency. Sen. Myriam remembers that more than I do. Sorry…what was it again he verified? I hope it has nothing to do with winning fairly and squarely. Anyway, I was in the palace for many years and I have a lot of stories you’d be surprised to hear. Thanks. Keep safe and enjoy the weekend. Cheers!