Here’s the proof
Exclusive by Raïssa Robles
Here, let me jog your memory.
But I’m sure you haven’t forgotten.
You just don’t want the generations born after Ferdinand Marcos’ 1989 death to know that once upon a time, you told the New York Times reporter and other journalists that not only you, but also your father, knew about the human rights abuses then going on.
But you said it was hard for your dad to stop the abuses because you added, ”It is not easy to fire all these people.”
You said you also knew there were political detainees. In fact, you said you tried to help some of them.
And you called Malacañang Palace a “snake pit”.
Before I show proof of what I’m saying, let’s recall what you said last week on national TV (ANC) about the human rights abuses during your dad’s dictatorship, whose remains you want to bury inside the Heroes’ Cemetery.
Your exact words were:
“‘Yung admission of guilt, unang-una ang liit-liit ko noon. Paano ko ia-admit hindi ko naman alam.”
(“The admission of guilt, in the first place, I was too young to know. How can I admit when I didn’t even know about it.”)
One newspaper, which picked up what you said, accompanied the story with a photo of you looking like a grade-schooler.
That photo is wrong.
The photo below shows more accurately your age at that time.
You also called the human rights abuses committed by your father’s regime “unintentional” and “not (government) policy”. I will show this is not true in a separate piece to follow, using the case of Archimedes Trajano – the student your bodyguards killed intentionally.
Meanwhile, let me show you first the proof that you knew all about the torture happening then.
Below is a screenshot of a New York Times article quoting you by name after an interview. It describes you as a 29-year-old.
Maliit pa ba yon? (Is that very very young?)
Maybe to a 100-year-old, it is.
And here is the link to the actual NYT piece.
Your brief interview with selected reporters was picked up that same day by the East Asia section of the US State Department. It filed the following report (now declassified) about what you said:
5. PHILIPPINES
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (BOTH
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 07 STATE 361903
MANILA) NOTE A REUTER REPORT THAT UNIDENTIFIED MALACANANG SOURCES SAID MARCOS PLANNED TO ATTEND REAGAN’S INAUGURATION NEXT MONTH AND SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT IN THE US. THE BALTIMORE SUN HAS A SIMILAR ITEM (SEE DEC 6 EAP PRESS SUMMARY).THE INQUIRER, UPI (CHICAGO TRIBUNE), USA TODAY, AND THE WASHINGTON TIMES {ALL MANILA) REPORT .THAT THE MALACANANG ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT MARCOS WILL MEET WITH HIS CABINET SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME S1NCE HE BECAME ILL. THE INQUIRER SAYS THE CABINET MEETING WAS CALLED TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, POLITICAL ISSUES, AND THE INSURGENCY IN SOUTHERN MINDANAO, WHERE REBELS HAVE RECENTLY INTENSIFIED THEIR ATTACKS 1T ADDS THAT THE MILITARY ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT IT WOULD INCREASE ITS FORCES ON THE ISLAND.
~ILE, THE NY- TIMES (MANILA) AND THE INQUIRER, USA TODAY, AND WASHINGTON TIMES ITEMS REPORT MARCOS’ DAUGHTER IMEE, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AS PART OF A SERIES OF BRIEFINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SAID THE MALACANANG HAD BECOME “A SNAKE PIT” OF INTRIGUE DURING MARCOS’ ILLNESS AND THAT ABUSES HAD BEEN COMMITTED BY PEOPLE CLOSE TO HER FAMILY. THEY NOTE SHE ALSO SAID HER FATHER “IS RECOVERING” FROM ASTHMA BUT DIDN’T ELABORATE.
THE NY TIMES QUOTES’ WAS DIFFICULT FOR HER FATHER TO END THE ABUSES MENTIONED ABOVE, EXPLAINING: “IT IS NOT EASY TO FIRE ALL THESE PEOPLE. ”
IT ADDS SHE DENIED HE IS SERIOUSLY ILL IT ALSO QUOTES HER AS SAYING IT WAS TOO EARLY TO JUDGE IF HER FATHER’S MARTIAL LAW EXPERIMENT HAD FAILED: HISTORY WILL JUDGE WHETHER WESTERN DEMOCRACY IS SUITABLE TO OUR SOC1ETY AND WILL PUT THE MARCOS REGIME IN PERSPECTIVE, ” SHE SAID, ADDING THAT FILIPINOS SHOULDN’T SEEK WESTERN MODELS TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIEDPAGE 08 STATE 361903
THE TIMES SAYS SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE ARE POLITICAL DETAINEES AND ADDED THAT SHE HAD INTERCEDED FOR A COUPLE OF THEM IT REPORTS SHE ALSO BLAMED THE COUNTRY’S PROBLEMS ON THE IMF, STATING: A GOOD CASE CAN BE MADE THAT THESE IMF PRESCRIPTIONS GOT US INTO TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. ”USA TODAY QUOTES HER AS SAYING IT IS TOO EARLY TO GRADE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE” OF HER FATHER’S 19 YEARS IN OFFICE, ADDING: YOU WILL NEED A GREAT NUMBER OF YEARS TO GET THE MARCOS REGIME IN PERSPECTIVE. ”
THE INQUIRER SAYS SHE ALSO QUESTIONED THE INTEGRITY OF THE GOP’S MEDIA POLICY, SAYING: “THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT BENEFITTED BY STONE-WALLING ON ISSUES. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE CANDID AND HONEST. ” IT REPORTS SHE SAID: “WE ARE ALL AGREED MALACANANG IS A SNAKE PIT. MY FATHER IS AWARE OF ABUSES COMMITTED BY SOME OF HIS PEOPLE, BUT IT IS NOT SO EASY TO FIRE ALL THESE PEOPLE. ”
IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE TRIBUNE AND INQUIRER REPORT, 50 CHILDREN (TRIBUNE} OR 100 (INQUIRER) CHILDREN AND RELATIVES OF POLITICAL PRISONERS RALLIED NEAR THE MALACANANG TO MARK “HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK, ” CARRYING SIGNS SAYING: ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS THE FREEDOM OF OUR PARENTS. ” THE TRIBUNE NOTES THE DEMONSTRATORS SA1D THE PARENTS HAD BEEN IMPRISONED FOR THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. IT QUOTES RETIRED. UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR MALAY, WHO ORGANIZED THE PROTEST, AS SAYING THERE WERE 1200 DETAINEES HELD IN 113 MILITARY CAMPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND THAT “MOST OF THESE DETAINEES ARE BREADWINNERS.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 09 STATE 361903
When you told American reporters that “My father is aware of abuses committed by some of his people, but it is not so easy to fire all these people.”
You seemed to know who they are. Do tell us who they are. Did “some” refer to then Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel V. Ramos, your uncle? And to then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile?
It’s time to tell all that you know.
T. Chito says
3 Dakilang Kasalanang at Kamalian ni Marcos sa Sambayanan ayon sa aking Professor sa LRT-Land Reform and Taxation nuong araw:
1. Nakilala at napangasawa nya si Imelda Romuladez.
2. Nag patawag at pag de-deklara ng Martial Law.
3. Pag papatawag ng Snap Election noong Pebrero 1986.
Meron paliwanag para sa mga yan. Kayo gusto nyo malaman? It is true now and even before and truth in accordance to the history of Philippine presidency.
raissa says
you don’t make sense. sorry.
edwin says
sinungaling yn c imee nung maliit p,turo yn ng magulang.wag n kayong magtaka kung mag tanga tangahan sya
Manny Tonogbanua says
When she said only a long passage of history will judge whether or not her father’s martial law was effective is dead wrong. As a college student at the time and an unwilling street activist, it only took us 4 days in February 1986 to judge your father and boot him out of Malacanang, Imee!
Jek says
LAHAT KAYONG MGA ANTI-MARCOS AY PAWANG MGA GAGO AT SIRA ULO. MARCOS WAS THE GREATEST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. KAYA KAYO GALIT KAY MARCOS, KASI HINDI KAYO MAKAPGNAKAW. KAYA SINA ENRILE AT RAMOS AY NAG-TRAYDOR KAY APO MARCOS.
raissa says
ibig ba sabihin nakapagnakaw ka?
Jek says
HINDI NGA…KASI HINDI AKO MAGNANAKAW EH. SI MARCOS AY MATAGAL NG PATAY, KAYA PABAYAAN NINYO NG MANAHIMIK SA LIBINGAN YUNG TAO. LET THE DEAD REST IN PEACE.
raissa says
The problem is not the dead, Jek. It’s the living family. They will use his burial there to rehab themselves, try to get the presidency and their loot back.
The Observer says
@jek, dapat ikaw ang manahimik na, total nailibing na naman ng patago ang magnanakaw at diktador mong Apo. Huwag kanang makialam sa kung ano man ang gawin ng mga taong galit na galit sa nangyari. Dapat mong maunawaan na hanggang ngayon maraming Pilipinong naghihirap pa rin dahil sa 10 bilyon dollars na ninakaw ng pamilya Marcos. Wag ka ngang magbulag-bulagan.
Naninilaw na rin siguro ang balat at mata ni Imee Marcos dahil sa namana niyang sakit sa kanyang ama ano, kasi sabi niya kahapon ang dami raw dyan mga maysakit at naninilaw na maiingay. Siguro tingin niya sa mga taong nasa paligid niya ay may mga sakit din tulad ng kanyang ama.
Jek says
Hello Observer, Sabi hanggang ngayon ay marami pa ring mga Pilipinong naghihirap. Hindi kasalanan ni Marcos yon. Dapat ay mag-move on na ang mga Pinoy. Itong si SATUR OCAMPO kung makapgsalita akala mo’y BANAL pero self righteous lang naman. at isang KOMONISTA at pasimuno ng mga kaguluhan kaya tuloy nag-proclaimed ng MARIAL LAW si Marcos para matigl ang mga gulong pinangugunahan nina Joe MA Sison, Benigno Aquino at marami pang iba. Kung sinasabi ninyong hindi bayani si Marcos, lalo na si Ninoy Aquino na walang ginawa kundi manggulo. Ito namang anak niyang si Pnoy. ano ang ngawa? Lalo na yung MASSACRE sa Maguindano na mahigit na 50 taong pinatay ng mga AMPATUAN. May nagawa ba siya? WALA. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring aksiyon. Yun mahigit na 40 SAF na napatay sa Mamasapano anong action ang ginawa ni Pnoy? WALA…! At least si Marcos ay kinulong ang maraming mga kriminal. Si Duterte naman ay, he is doung an EXCELLENT job killing those DRUG LORDS, PUSHERS etc. Yun naman nagde-montrate na mga bata at mga estudiyante, anong malay nila noong Martial Law???? Isa pa itong si Leni Robredo puro daldal. Gusto mo bang maging Presidente si Robredo na UTUUTO? Aba huwag naman sana! Sige good night to you all.
raissa says
Ito ay isang halimbawa na historical revisionism.
The Observer says
Oo nga, gusto baguhin ni @jek ang history ng martial law ni dictator marcos. Sana magbago ang isip niya, at magbasa siya ng mga nangyari nong panahon ni Marcos. Alam mo ba kahit saang bansa ako magpunta, pag nabanggit ko ang Philippines, pangalan nina Marcos at Imelda agad ang babanggitin nila sa akin. Anyway, hopeful naman ako na hindi makakalimutan ng mga Pilipino ang mga ginawa ni Marcos dahil na rin sa nakita kong paglahok ng mga kabataan sa mga protesta na ginawa against the deceptive burial of dictator Marcos.
wbar says
Baka Pduts warrior na yang kasagutan mo…http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/money-and-credulity-drive-dutertes-keyboard-army/
The Observer says
Thank you for this link @wbar.
duquemarino says
Naisahan na naman ng mga Marcos ang bansang Pilipinas.
Sa ikalawang araw ng pasiyam kuno ay inilibing ang bangkay ng diktador sa katanghaliang tapat (11-18-2016). Muling pinatunayan ng mga Marcos ang patuloy na panlilinlang sa bayan.
duquemarino says
Inilibing sa Libingan ng mga Bayani at Isang Diktador.
Anak ng Aktibista says
My Dad was an activist during the Martial Law era. He kept running away because he knew he would get killed because Marcos’ people were really out to kill people like them.
Thankfully my Dad survived and has lived to tell his tale.
Wag nating kalimutan ang nakaraan. Let us continuously educate the young ones about Martial Law.
Hilario Lorenzo says
You are very wrong when you tell that Archimedes trahano was killed by imees bodyguard because trahano comiited suicide by jumping out of the window where he was boarding with Consuelo Lorenzo after he ran amok and killed ate soli as I call her and a 1 year old child named ma. Consuelo an adapted child of ate soli and the yaya of the girl. Afraid that he may be killed by bystanders outside he jumped out of the window with his head first and his scull was broken which caused his death. This tragedy was in the newspapers the following day and this happened near the central market in sta. cruz, manila. I was a 2nd year student at that time and this happened in 1977 if my recollection is right. For those who hate the marcoses I have this to tell you that some abuses being thrown against them are fabricated just as what happened to Archimedes trahano. Ate soli is my landlady because she was renting an apartment in de LA fuente st. Manila at that time and we with my sister and my brother are boarding in that apartment. It was 4 am in the morning when somebody came to wake us up only to tell that ate soli and the 1 year old girl tgethere with the yaya was killed by Archimedes trahano. And we rushed to the scene and we saw their bodies being loaded to ambulance . This is the truth regarding the death of Archimedes trahano and this was in the newspapers
raissa says
Really.
Where’s your proof?
Why did Imee Marcos nor Fabian Ver come forward with this version?
Sounds Marcosian to me, unless you can show an iota of proof that this is actually what happened.
Even the police, according to GMA research, claimed it was a frat rumble.
Try again.
moonie says
which newspapers? hilario lorenzo, can you pls provide the newspapers you mentioned? sabi mo ang bodies ng mga namatay were rushed to hospital, which hospital would that be? is there collaborating record in the hospital? may blotter?
caliphman says
One does not have to be a CIS expert to conclude your bogus story is completely ludicrous given Trajano’s face wounds after his murder. His forehead bears a deep gash instead of a broken skull from falling on his head. There is a huge blackeye and other contusions a fall could not cause unless they were inflicted by Ate Soli and a one year old child. Get a clue..or better yet, get a life!
moonie says
hilario lorenzo is just being hilarious!and not good historian too. marcosian kasi yan. like imee, hilario lorenzo is trying to rewrite history. but we know better.
if his recollection is right kuno, well ang recollection ni hilario lorenzo is not right, fabricated yan as fabricated as imee’s lioness haircut, gawa ng hairdresser at that time.
kung talagang nahulog is archimedes trajano, he must have sustained injuries other than pulped head, his limbs must have been broken too, ribs cracked consistent of fall.
at kung namatay tao si archimedes trajano, where’s the murder weapon used in the killing? and his dna should have been on the victim/s too, for that would put him on the scene of the crime.
I think, hilario lorenzo is telling kwentong barbero.
sam says
Imee was 17 years old when Proclamation 1081 was announced. Maybe Imee was referring to her height?
speaking of Her father’s last will, its impossible that they (the marcos’) don’t know about it. If Imee truly wants to fulfill her father’s “huling habiling”. Even if Du30 wants to have FM be at Libingan ng mga Bayani, she could simply thank Du30 and proceed with what is stated on her father’s will.
vandr says
may mas malaking motibo pa ang insistence na iyan na ipalibing ang wax sa lnmb.
maging ang mga nakabimbing kaso ay malalagay sa alanganin.
moonie says
guys, ang will ni makoy shows a not so happy family. he wished to be buried with mama, and the rub is he did not ask that his ‘loving wife’ imelda, be buried with him after her death. together in life, together in death, most husband and wife are buried together, makoy made no such proviso.
makoy wants to be buried with mama, but imelda will have him buried with two men instead, parang tres amigos tuloy sila. sorry po, no disrespect to the other two.
johnchris fajardo says
martial law did not last for only one day !!! it stretched so long that it touched millions of us ! that is why millions of us are called martial law babies ! IMEE was no baby when it started, she may fool people now but never my generation !!!