Imee Marcos: I was not talking about apology, only forgiveness for the past

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos has asked for forgiveness for whatever wrong her late father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, did during his dictatorship and called on all concerned to move on and have reconciliation.

Told about the apology that she had supposedly sent the victims of Martial Law under Marcos, Imee, however, said that she was only talking about forgiveness.

"Hindi apology ang sinasabi ko. Sa akin forgiveness na lang sa lahat ng nakalipas at sa lahat ng mga nangyari sa buhay natin. E, talagang kinakailangan mag-move on," Imee told Jessica Soho on GMA News TV's "State of the Nation."

"Alam ko marami sa kanila ang nakalugmok, talagang babad na babad diyan. Ang akin naman, kami rin sa pangkat namin may hinanakit, may galit, may pag po-poot. Kailangan malipasan na, laktawan natin yan, magka-isa. 'Yun ang pinaka-importante, yung paghihilom at pagkaka-isa," she added.

Imee in September appealed to the critics of her father to forgive him for whatever wrong he did during his two-decade rule.

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 then.

On the other charges or court cases that have been filed against the family, she knows these will continue and that the family will abide by the court decision on these other issues.

"Pero ang issue namin dito ay ilibing na," Imee said.

Imee was interviewed on Tuesday night hours after the Supreme Court, on a vote of 9-5, ruled to dismiss the petitions against the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

She said their family was not looking forward to a lavish state funeral for the Marcos.

Imee said her father only wanted to be buried alongside his fellow soldiers.

"'Yung tatay ko sobrang sundalo yung palaisipan nun e. Yung gusto niya kung magkakasakit, sa soldier's hospital. Kung 'di sa V. Luna, sa Veterans Memorial (Hospital)," said the eldest daughter of the strongman.

"Sa Libing ng mga Bayani ako (ilibing) para kasama ko mga kawal," she added.
The Marcos family is not planning an elaborate ceremony for the burial, she underscored.

"Hindi naman bonggang-bonggang state funeral," the governor said, adding that they will only hold "yung pangkaraniwang libing ng isang sundalo." — BAP/NB, GMA News