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Ramos counters Imee: I already atoned for Martial Law role


Former President Fidel Ramos said he has atoned for his role during the Martial Law regime by being one of the leaders of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Ramos, who served as Philippine Constabulary chief and vice chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces, withdrew support from then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, along with former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who was defense minister at the time.

This triggered a series of events that ousted Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino into the presidency. Ramos would be appointed defense secretary under Mrs. Aquino's administration, before eventually succeeding her as president.

"I hope you people remember your history. My apology was more than an apology," he told reporters in a press conference on Monday afternoon.

"In the Christian tradition, you confess and then you atone. My atonement was leading the military and the police during the EDSA People Power Revolution. I stand by that record. It's there in the history books," he added.

He said this in response to Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos' comment that questions about human rights abuses during Martial Law should be directed at Ramos instead, after the former president said the Marcoses owed Filipinos about the matter.

In a Facebook post last November 14, the eldest daughter of the late President Marcos said she was young at the time.

"Kami ay nag-aaral pa noon at mga bata pa. Bakit nga ba hindi natin tanungin ang dating Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel Ramos tungkol sa mga pag-aresto at mga pang-aabuso diumano?" she wrote.

'Of course not'

In response, Ramos said Imee was "not a child" at the time.

"That is a funny story. When she said they were still young, in fact she said 'Maliliit pa kami na mga bata' in Tagalog... I know how old she is because she is one year older than my eldest daughter. My oldest daughter at that time, looking at the beginning of Martial Law,  was already 18 years old," he said.

"And within a few years after the proclamation of Martial Law, Imee was elected 'president' of the Kabataang Barangay. So was she a little baby at the time or a little 'musmusin'? Or a little kiddie teenager? Of course not! She was a responsible person," he added.

Ramos noted that the Marcoses' apology should be made by "the head of their family," Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos, widow of the late president.

"It's not from Irene (sic)," he said.

"It's from the mother, who knew everything, including the beginning of Martial Law. Including the good years before Martial Law. Including what must have happened on August 21, 1983," Ramos added.

"Sana the head of the family will make an apology. Hindi 'yung may magsasabi na maliit pa ako nu'n, na bata pa ako nu'n. Hindi. Ka-edad ng anak ko, eh. Eh 'di alam ko."

Ramos also said the Marcoses' hidden wealth should be "contributed for humanitarian purposes and at the same time for the restitution of the claims of the decendants of the victims." —JST, GMA News

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