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Thursday, September 22, 2005
Imelda sought Vidal’s advice
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said former first lady Imelda Marcos had approached him on separate occasions to seek advice on two issues hounding her — her family’s “hidden wealth” and her request to give her late husband a hero’s burial.
Cardinal Vidal said that even before discussions on the two issues were revived recently, Imelda went to see him in 1998 and in 2004.
In 1998, when she ran for president, Imelda visited Vidal to talk about her family’s wealth, most of which is believed to be illegally amassed.
Last year, Imelda again saw Vidal to talk about the family’s long-standing request to allow the refrigerated remains of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.
Vidal said that despite what the Marcoses did, the late dictator still deserves an honorable burial, a move that could pave the way for reconciliation.
Very troubled
As to the Marcos wealth, the prelate said he is hoping the issue will be settled soon.
“The wealth is so big that it can get our people out of poverty,” he said.
The prelate, though, did not say what he told Imelda.
Vidal made these revelations last Monday, after he officiated the mass during the National Assembly of Basic Ecclesiastical Communities.
The prelate said Imelda appeared “very troubled” as to how to avoid the controversy regarding her jewelry collection that is now in the possession of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
The jewelry collection, worth about $10 million, is set to be sold in an auction in November. That auction may be held in Manila.
Imelda has again asked the court to stop the auction.
Vidal also said that when he saw Imelda in 1998, she mentioned her family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth, but did not go into details.
“I suppose she has more to tell. I suppose she knows if there is more. But she is not obliged to tell me,” Vidal said.
The debate on giving Marcos a hero’s burial was revived when the House of Representatives voted to reject the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo.
The late president’s daughter, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, had signed the impeachment complaint against Arroyo, but did not show up during the voting.
Talks were rife then that the Marcoses had sealed a deal with Malacañang on the burial issue. The Marcoses have since denied this.
Vidal also believes that giving Ferdinand a hero’s burial could show that the country is ready for reconciliation.
“Every Christian should respect their dead, despite what happened in the past. We should know how to forgive and move on,” Vidal said.
For his part, Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu Archdiocese media liaison officer, said that although it is not easy for Filipinos to forget what they have gone through during the Marcos regime, there should be mutual forgiveness. (LLV)
(September 22, 2005 issue)
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