Is Imelda R Marcos Persecuted?

“I am used to being persecuted and ridiculed for my commitment to the good, true and beautiful.”

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda R Marcos said that in response to a question if she expects opposition to her inclusion in the Philippine delegation that leaves for Washington DC headed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino for a State Visit.

I don’t really know what the former First Lady was saying but it could be in tune with the UN’s goal “to end poverty and hunger; establish universal education and gender equality; promote child and maternal health; combat AIDS, and ensure environmental sustainability” — goals that Marcos said are “close to her heart.”

Rep. Marcos deserves much appreciation for the things close to her heart --- the uplifting of Filipino life and transforming the environment productive and responsive to our needs.

If she is indeed serious, I wonder why on the five House measures she authored or sponsored, there’s only one that has something to do with (respecting) nature (See HCR0005) and none on the six House measures she co-authored corresponds to what are “close in her heart”.

I understand that as a representative of Ilocos Norte, the scope of her job is limited. However when she was a First Lady, everybody knows how powerful she was. She could have started to work for all that is good for the Filipinos and for the country as early as 1965 or have pushed her husband to start the job in his first term.

When they left the Presidential Palace by force, Filipinos were in grinding poverty while Mrs. Marcos almost owned heaven and earth. Although the Marcos administration erected school buildings, public education was inferior to private schools. And during the Marcos heydays, how many females were appointed to the Supreme Court? How many were members of the Cabinet and how many were in top government positions? I don’t have to go into details on how the Marcos fascist dictatorship was. Mrs. Marcos, if only does not play amnesia and is honest knows the real score.

Not only the Americans but the whole world cannot forget her extravagance and power as First Lady while Filipinos were gasping in poverty caused by massive graft and corruption aside from being terrorized by the rampant violation of human rights. She would steal the show in the States at its worst if she goes along with the presidential party.

It was also reckless on her part to construe that she is persecuted and ridiculed for her commitment to do good, true and beautiful.

How many were persecuted during the dictatorship? Senators, journalists and activists were jailed without due process simply because they were the political enemies of her husband. Some did not survive --- only to be found summarily executed in shallow graves. How many who were doing good were persecuted and even accused as Communists? Does any one remember Sr. Christine Tan and members of the clergy opposing Martial Law? Many who stood for truth were persecuted. Macli-ing Dulag, a tribe leader protecting their land by opposing the construction of a dam was murdered. The Cellophil Resources displaced thousands of Tingguians in Abra. Fr. Conrado Balweg, a Tingguian himself and an SVD missionary joined the New People’s Army to defend the interests of  his people.

And since when Mrs. Marcos is persecuted? Who believes that she is? If she was not able to do what are close to her heart during her salad political years, why now? -30-

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*As of today, 16 September, Pres. Aquino will be in the United Nations in New York where he expects to meet US Pres. Barack Obama in private.  Hence, it is not an official state visit to the United States. ---COR INVICTUS