The Governor of Ilocos Norte Imee Marcos pointed to former President Fidel Ramos as protests continue regarding the impending burial of her father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“Kami ay nag-aaral pa noon at mga bata pa. Bakit nga ba hindi natin tanungin ang dating Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel Ramos tungkol sa mga pag-aresto at mga pang-aabuso diumano?” said Imee.
Among those who was disappointed with the High Court’s decision on Brillant Marcos burial was Ramos, who was once Marcos’ vice military chief.
Imee pointed out that Ramos was also the former chief of the Philippine Constabulary (PC), infamous during the Martial Law years as it was used by the late dictator to arrest his critics.
The PC was the national police force that began under the American regime in 1901. It eventually became part of the military and was in charge of maintaining peace and order.
The PC was merged with the Integrated National Police to form what is now the Philippine National Police.
“Rigoberto D. Tiglao of the Manila Times, who was a student activist, labor organizer, and 'firebrand Communist' (his own words), wrote last February, ‘Arrest orders against me and my late wife... were issued by Ramos,’ adding, ‘it was the PC's top anti-subversive unit, the 5th Constabulary Security Unit... that arrested us, with one of their tall burly soldiers beating me up,’” said Imee.
But Ramos and then-defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile broke away from Marcos following the 1986 snap elections, starting the series of events that led to the dictator's downfall during the EDSA People Power Revolution.