MANILA (UCAN): Wanna Ver, the daughter of the late General Fabian Ver, the chief of the Philippine Armed Forced during the time of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., issued a public apology on May 2 to martial law victims.
Ver, co-founder of Kapwa Pilipinas, an organisation focused on cultivating reconciliation for the survivors of martial law under the Marcos dictatorship, issued the apology for the crimes her father helped commit out of loyalty to the former dictator. She said the martial law years were not the “golden era” that the dictator’s son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has been trying to promote on social media.
“Most of the people who suffered under martial law suffered systemic oppression at the hands of the Marcos regime,” she told reporters.
In an May 5 op-ed in the Washington Post, Ver wrote, “I grew up being taught that the Marcos era was the country’s golden age.”
“It took me decades to realise many things I believed about that period were lies—lies that are still being told,” she lamented, pointing out that “Marcos Jr. has not apologised for his father’s sins.”
Ver wrote, “It would be easier to keep quiet, but silence is what has allowed the revision of history and denial of people’s testimonies.
She concluded, “Regardless of who wins, at this critical moment in our history, I hope for a president who will have the courage to put the Philippines first, to listen to our countrymen and women, to choose reconciliation over revision, and carve a new path toward healing our nation.”
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines praised Ver for her courage in speaking the truth.
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“She broke the spell of wickedness in her own generation by acknowledging the sins of the previous generation which she had benefited from. It is never too late for many others whose crimes are known well by God. Please, do yourselves a favour while there is still time,” Bishop David said in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile Marcos Jr., and running mate, Sara Duterte, received the much-coveted endorsement of the Iglesia ni Cristo sect, which has an estimated three million members and votes as a bloc.
“The unity of Iglesia ni Cristo is recognised by its members as one of the teachings of the Bible that should be followed,” the group said in a television broadcast.
The sect announced its support on May 4, based on a call for unity, which it claims taught in the Bible. It commonly cites 1 Corinthians 1:10, where St. Paul writes: “I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement,” conflating judgement with voting.
Retired Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon, said unity is only proper if it is based on truth and justice, not lies and fake news.
“The Marcoses keep on saying they are for unity but they have never recognised the billions of pesos they plundered during the time of their father,” he said, pointing out that the Marcos family had never shown remorse, which meant they had failed to recognise the human rights violations the late president committed during martial law.
“Did they even say sorry? Why should the Filipino people vote for those who have not recognised and accepted their past mistakes?” the bishop asked.
Marcos and Duterte welcomed the endorsement and thanked the group for their “unity vote.” Iglesia ni Cristo, backed Marcos Jr. in his failed bid for the vice presidency in the last election in 2016.
