Imee to Marcos critics: Forgive my dad, he's only human

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos on Sunday urged her family's detractors to forgive the alleged sins of her father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos. 

"Sana anuman ang kasalanan ng aking ama -- sapagkat hindi naman niya kailanman sinabi na siya ay hindi tao lamang na nagkakamali at nagkakasala... mahanap na nila ang kapatawaran," the governor said at the commemoration of the late strongman's birthday in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. 

(I hope that whatever the sins of my father were -- because he never said that he is not a mere human who errs and commits sins... they can find forgiveness for him.) 

"Sa pagpapatawad sa atin, sa aking ama, sa pagpapatawad, sana mapawi na rin ang galit nila at sila mismo ay mabigyan ng kapayapaan at katahimikan," she added. 

(In forgiving us, my father, in forgiving, I wish that their anger will be assuaged so they can have peace and tranquility.) 

President Marcos' authoritarian rule under Martial Law has been the subject of intense debate recently as the Supreme Court hears petitions asking that Marcos' interment at the heroes' cemetery be stopped. 

Survivors of military rule insist Marcos does not deserve a burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, while the new administration says the rules governing the cemetery do not bar the internment there of a former president and former soldier. 

The Marcos burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani is also a campaign promise of President Rodrigo Duterte, whose father served in the Marcos pre-martial law Cabinet. 

LISTEN: Victims recall horrors of Marcos' martial law

The Marcos patriarch died in exile in Hawaii on September 28, 1989, over 3 years after he was ousted from power in the EDSA People Power Revolution. He would have turned 99 yesterday. 

Governor Marcos and her mother, former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, led a memorial Mass and wreath-laying ceremony for the late president's birthday. 

Imelda Marcos commemorates husband's birthday in Ilocos

As part of the event, mother and daughter also gathered 1 million signatures pushing for the burial of their patriarch at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LBNM) in Taguig City. 
 
The signature drive was also carried online through the "#ilibingNa si President Marcos sa LBNM" campaign. 

The signatures will be submitted to the Supreme Court. 

The high court last week extended until October 18, 2016 an earlier halt order it issued against the planned interment of Marcos at the Heroes' Cemetery.