Fabian Ver
|
|
Fabian Ver (January 20, 1920 - November 21, 1998) born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was a former General and the former Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos. He was the second most powerful man during the Marcos dictatorship and he was also known as Marcos' chief enforcer. Ver worked his way up the military ranks, serving in World War II and after. He was fiercely loyal to Marcos, and Marcos repayed his loyalty by appointing him as the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ver would be a feared figure during the martial law years, as he was known to take no prisoners and would resort to torture when needed. Martial law was lifted in 1981. As the Marcos dictatorship grew unpopular during these years, Marcos would be in and out of office due to kidney ailments and political mismanagement would ensue, culminating with the 1983 assassination of popular oppositionist Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. upon his return from exile in the United States. Ver was accused of having conspired with a certain Rolando Galman who shot Aquino. The Agrava Commission, an independent fact-finding body put up by Ferdinand Marcos, would have Ver be indicted for the crime, but was subsequently acquitted in 1985 by Marcos. After the tumultuous snap elections of 1986, the EDSA Revolution would come. Ver went into exile in the United States along with his children, and would not be heard of for a while. In November of 1998, it was revealed that he was terminally ill and ailing in Bangkok. He died on November 21 and his remains were brought back to the Philippines. He was buried in his hometown of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.