Former First Lady Imelda Marcos attended a morning Mass Wednesday which, unknown to her, was intended to remember the victims of the martial law regime of her late husband, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, popularly known as Baclaran Church, in Parañaque City was followed by a short program for the victims of torture and killings during Marcos’ repressive rule, said Nardy Sabino, secretary general of Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), an ecumenical group which sponsored it.
“She (Mrs. Marcos) was at the church about 10:45 a.m. Someone gave a testimony as a victim of torture during martial law, she heard that. The homily was about martial law and the significance of Edsa (People Power Revolution),” Sabino said.
Coincidence
“Stoic, unmoved,” was how Sabino described Mrs. Marcos’ demeanor during the homily and testimony.
“We didn’t know she was attending Mass there. To us it was a coincidence,” he said.
He said somebody had told him even before the Mass started that Imelda was present and he was able to confirm it right away.
Imelda, who is now an Ilocos Norte representative, was seated on a wheelchair in front near the altar, along with some martial law victims and human rights groups.
“She left after the communion rites. She heard the testimony and the homily. We hope she understood and took to heart that many people lost their loved ones, their mothers, fathers and children, a lot of people suffered,” Sabino said.
He said no one jeered or taunted the former First Lady.
“No. We will not do that. For us, we’re after the public as our audience because we want them to remember and understand the abuses and violence of martial law, the neglect of dignity of human life during that time,” he said.
Sabino said Imelda had passed through a side entrance and may have missed the photo exhibit on the Marcos regime that had been set up at the church Wednesday.