‘Reconciliation’ between Marcos, Aquino families

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

It was a poignant scene seeing on television Marcos children Imee and “Bongbong” with his wife Liza Araneta going to the wake Tuesday of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral. Cory died on Aug. 1 after a year battling colon cancer.

Maybe, this could be the start of reconciliation between the two political families who had been at odds for almost four decades. After all, Liza is the niece of Sari Cacho, wife of Pedro Cojuangco, eldest brother of Ms Aquino.

This could be redundant but for our internet site readers, the former strongman President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos ruled the Philippines for almost three decades until his government was toppled by a popular revolt led by then Ms Aquino in 1986.

The so-called Edsa Revolution in the capital city of Manila, which ousted the Marcos regime, was the offshoot of the murder of Cory’s husband Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.at the then Manila International Airport in 1983. The Marcos administration had also been accused of human rights violations.
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The former strongman, main political nemesis of Ninoy at that time, had been blamed for the latter’s murder but the “mastermind” had never been proven. Imelda, the former First Lady had always maintained it was not her husband who ordered the killing. Rolando Galman, who was blamed as having shot Ninoy had been tagged by the military as the killer. Galman was also killed on the spot by members of the now defunct Aviation Security Command.

Government reports at that time tagged Galman as a communist assassin but this also had never been proven. Among other conspiracy theories, reports also said a prominent businessman with presidential ambitions had actually ordered the killing of Ninoy.

Some lawmen under the Marcos regime, have been charged, convicted and jailed for Ninoy’s murder and have been languishing in jail for many years until they were recently pardoned by now President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But the pardoned still maintain innocence of the crime.
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Critics said Arroyo pardoned the “killers” to spite Ms Aquino for calling for her resignation following a string of corruption scandals most of which allegedly involved Miguel Arroyo, the First Gentleman. The Arroyo family didn’t attend Cory’s wake with son Mikee quoted as saying they didn’t want to be a cause of trouble.

At the Manila Cathedral, the Marcoses were welcomed by Aquino’s eldest daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and grandchildren Jonty Aquino-Cruz and Kiko Aquino-Dee wherein observers said this could be the start of reconciliation between the two families.

Later, former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino, brother of Ninoy and brother-in-law of the former president, welcomed the Marcos siblings. Ballsy buzzed Imee and Bongbong on the cheek while Butz shook hands of the late dictator’s son and namesake. The Aquinos and the Marcoses chatted for about 20 minutes before the latter left, minutes before former President Fidel Ramos arrived.
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Ramos was military chief under Marcos until he and then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile decided to bolt the administration and join the revolt. Enrile is now Senate President under the Arroyo administration. Ramos became president after Cory anointed him as her successor and won the election.

“Nandito kami para makiramay (We are here to offer our condolences),” Bongbong told reporters. “We thank the Marcoses for their prayers even though what happened cannot be set aside,” Aquino-Dee said.

The youngest daughter, Kris Aquino-Yap, a television personality, earlier hinted at a possible reconciliation with the Marcoses, noting “sincerity” in prayers they offered for her mother. The Marcoses earlier issued a statement offering their prayers for the ailing former president.

Bongbong, son and namesake of the late strongman who was ousted in the EDSA Revolution, has urged the nation to set aside politics and join prayers for Ms Aquino. Maybe, there would be “reconciliation” between the Aquino family and other personalities of different political parties since they attended Cory’s wake.
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Former President Joseph Estrada who was ousted for alleged corruption in another revolution led by Cory, the religious and other top personalities, was there during the wake, even her critics. Estrada succeeded Ramos as president.

GMA was there. But now, political observers are saying the anointment of President Arroyo for her successor in next year’s national election would be a “kiss of death” but that is another story.