Imelda: Gaddafi respected me

Former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos on Monday said she is hoping for a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Libya, as she spoke fondly of its beleaguered leader, Muammar Gaddafi, whom she said “respected" her. In an exclusive interview with GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo aired over “24 Oras," Mrs. Marcos recalled her visit to Libya in 1974, when she was sent there by her husband, then President Ferdinand Marcos, to discuss the peace negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front. Mrs. Marcos said she had sought the influential Muslim leader’s support in forging peace with the separatist group. Asked if there is truth to rumors that Gaddafi, whose country is currently in turmoil following large scale protests aimed at dethroning him, was smitten by her, the flamboyant former First Lady said she does not know. “I don’t know about that, but the fact alone . . . I think he respected me because he even said to me, ‘I admire your commitment and courage for peace,’" she said. She said she also asked Gaddafi, who has been in power for over four decades now, to sell oil to the Philippines at a lower price, and to allow overseas Filipino workers to be deployed there.

“I went there with one, and I got half a dozen or more agreements," Mrs. Marcos said in the newscast. When asked if Gaddafi should step down, Mrs. Marcos only said that the Libyan leader should follow the example of her late husband. “I am praying that like Marcos, he will find a peaceful solution for after all, he has done a great job and history will always remember him," Mrs. Marcos said. Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III said he has no plan yet of joining other world leaders in calling for Gaddafi to step down. “I may have the same opinion on a personal basis, but I guess my first priority has to be to deal with the 26,000 estimated Filipinos who are already there," he said at a press briefing in Malacañang Monday. He said all of the actions of the government will be guided in order not to increase the risks the Filipinos are facing in Libya. “That has to be very clear. This government will be attuned to making sure that the 26,000 Filipinos are as safe as possible," he said as he expressed hope that the situation in Libya will not deteriorate further. He said moving the 26,000 Filipinos “is no easy matter regardless of whatever country you are especially in a zone that has already demonstrated and exhibited violence." The United Nations Security Council has unanimously imposed sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freezes on Gaddafi and his family. - with Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News