Imee Marcos seeks forgiveness for father: He’s only human

MANILA, Philippines – Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, asked their family’s critics to forgive her father.

Imee made the appeal to their family's detractors in her speech on the 99th birth anniversary of her father in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. She said her father is only human and prone to mistakes.

“Ngunit laging may mga bumabatikos sa mga Marcos at walang humpay at tatlong dekada ang galit sa amin,” Imee said in her speech.

“Kung anuman ang sala ng ama ko, at sadyang tao lang namang nagkakamali at nagkakasala, sana'y patawarin na nila. Na sa pagpapatawad nila'y mabigyan ang tatay ko ng kapayapaan at sa kanilang pagpapatawad mapawi sa wakas ang kanilang galit at matagpuan rin nila ang katahimikan,” she added.

The late president's rule saw countless human rights abuses and marked by massive corruption. Marcos placed the country under martial rule from Sept. 21, 1972 until Jan. 17, 1981.

The older Marcos has been the subject of debate after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of National Defense to prepare for his burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani or Heroes' Cemetery.

Martial law victims opposed the move, seeking for a halt order from the Supreme Court. Hundreds of Filipinos also held demonstrations against the burial at the site, citing “grave injustice" to thousands of human rights victims.

In April, former vice presidential candidate and senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. refused to apologize for the alleged abuses of his father. He said he recognized every administration's violations against human rights, but he failed to directly refer to those done during the Martial Law period.