Imee says HR abuses during father’s rule are just ‘political accusations’

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos won’t admit the alleged human rights violations committed by her father and late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, even as she eyes a national position as senator in the 2019 polls.

Imee said this shortly after filing her certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections on Tuesday, citing that her family will say sorry, but not admit the guilt of her father.

“Kung ang dinedemand ay admission [of guilt] ay palagay ko hindi pwede ‘yun (If what they demand is admission of guilt, I think that cannot happen),” she said in a press briefing.

Asked for the reason why, she then said: “Bakit kami mag-aadmit sa hindi namin ginawa? (Why would we admit guilt over something we did not do?)”

Imee said that her family has long been saying sorry for the victims of the alleged human rights violation of her father during the Martial law era, but maintained that those were only accusations.

“As we all know, these are political accusations that have not been proven in court,” she said.

Despite the victims still calling for justice on the alleged human rights violations during her father’s presidency, Imee said she thinks the country is now prepared to listen to her family’s “side of the story.”

“Sa palagay ko ang ating bansa ay handang handa na na makarinig ng iba pang kaisipan at marinig rin ang aming side of the story, ika nga (I think the country is really prepared to hear a new idea and our side of the story),” she said.

Is she worried that issues against the Marcoses will work against her in the 2019 senatorial race?

“Kung worry, wala sana ako rito (If I worry, I won’t be here),” she said. “Palagay ko may pagbabago na rin ang pag-unawa ng nakalipas (I think there has been a change in the understanding of the past). /muf

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