Fabian Ver
Encyclopedia
Fabian C. Ver was a General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
under President Ferdinand Marcos
. It is said he was the mastermind of assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
as Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972. and he was also known as Marcos' chief enforcer, and was the highest among the Rolex 12
. Ver worked his way up the military ranks, serving in World War II
as an guerrilla intelligence officer and after. He was fiercely loyal to Marcos, and Marcos repaid his loyalty by appointing him as the head of the Presidential Security Group
, then known as the Presidential Security Command. When he was due for retirement in 1976, Marcos extended his term indefinitely. He also headed the then National Intelligence and Security Agency (now, the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency), the spy department of the Philippines, sending government agents to search for anti-Marcos critics.. 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, and Ver was appointed as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
over a cousin, Gen. Fidel Valdez Ramos, then the chief of the Philippine Constabulary
.
As Marcos disregarded the authority of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile
on the 1980's, he changed the military chain of command. Under the new chain of command, the authority would evolve from Marcos as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces up to Ver, the chief of staff of the armed forces.
Thus, Ver increasingly became the second most powerful government official in the country, replacing Enrile who held the status since the imposition of Martial Law on 1972 when Marcos named him as martial law administrator. Ver and Enrile would be often at odds with each other.
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 on February 7, Marcos announced that he was replacing Ver with Fidel Ramos due to his alleged ties with the Aquino assassination although he tacitly kept Ver in power.
Ver would not be heard of for a while in spite of allegiations against him by the government. In November 1998, it was revealed that he was terminally ill from emphysema
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
.
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
under President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. It is said he was the mastermind of assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Military and political career
He was most trusted military officer of then President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
as Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972. and he was also known as Marcos' chief enforcer, and was the highest among the Rolex 12
Rolex 12
Rolex 12 is the collective name of twelve of the closest and most powerful advisers of President Ferdinand Marcos during the martial law years in the Philippines from 1972 to 1981....
. Ver worked his way up the military ranks, serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an guerrilla intelligence officer and after. He was fiercely loyal to Marcos, and Marcos repaid his loyalty by appointing him as the head of the Presidential Security Group
Presidential Security Group
- External links :*...
, then known as the Presidential Security Command. When he was due for retirement in 1976, Marcos extended his term indefinitely. He also headed the then National Intelligence and Security Agency (now, the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency), the spy department of the Philippines, sending government agents to search for anti-Marcos critics.. 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, and Ver was appointed as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
over a cousin, Gen. Fidel Valdez Ramos, then the chief of the Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
.
As Marcos disregarded the authority of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Ponce Enrile
Juan Ponce Enrile is a Filipino politician. As a protege of President Ferdinand Marcos, he served as Justice Secretary and then Defense Secretary under the Marcos regime. He later became one of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Movement that drove Marcos from power...
on the 1980's, he changed the military chain of command. Under the new chain of command, the authority would evolve from Marcos as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces up to Ver, the chief of staff of the armed forces.
Thus, Ver increasingly became the second most powerful government official in the country, replacing Enrile who held the status since the imposition of Martial Law on 1972 when Marcos named him as martial law administrator. Ver and Enrile would be often at odds with each other.
Crisis
Ver kept aging officers loyal to himself and also to Marcos on the armed forces, thus making young officers disgruntled. The Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) was formed by these young officers, led by then Colonel Gregorio Honasan as a result of this. The RAMboys, as they were known in the Philippines, played a key role in Marcos' overthrow. As the Marcos regime grew unpopular during these years, Marcos would be in and out of office due to kidney ailments. Political mismanagement would ensue, culminating with the 1983 assassination of popular oppositionist Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
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 on February 7, Marcos announced that he was replacing Ver with Fidel Ramos due to his alleged ties with the Aquino assassination although he tacitly kept Ver in power.
Later life
After the tumultuous snap elections of 1986, the EDSA Revolution would come. Ver advised Marcos to give him orders to fire on the swelling number of protesters, but Marcos stubbornly refused to and dismissed him with a salute. This led to the end of the Marcos regime. Ver went into exile in the United States along with his children. At that time Ver's mistress was banker Edna Camcam.Ver would not be heard of for a while in spite of allegiations against him by the government. In November 1998, it was revealed that he was terminally ill from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
and ailing in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. He died on November 21 and his remains were brought back to the Philippines. He was buried in his hometown of Sarrat
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte
Sarrat is a fourth class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is situated geographically east of Laoag City. Other municipalities that form part of its boundaries are: Vintar, Piddig, Solsona and San Nicolas...
, Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
.
See also
- Rolex 12Rolex 12Rolex 12 is the collective name of twelve of the closest and most powerful advisers of President Ferdinand Marcos during the martial law years in the Philippines from 1972 to 1981....
- Presidential Security GroupPresidential Security Group- External links :*...
/ Presidential Security Command - National Intelligence Coordinating AgencyNational Intelligence Coordinating AgencyThe National Intelligence Coordinating Agency is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the Philippine government, in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and clandestine intelligence programs...
(NICA) - Sterling SeagraveSterling SeagraveSterling Seagrave is author of The Soong Dynasty, The Marcos Dynasty, Gold Warriors and numerous other books which address unofficial and clandestine aspects of 20th Century political history of the countries in the Far East....
- University of the Philippines ROTC UnitUniversity of the Philippines ROTC UnitThe University of the Philippines ROTC Corps of Cadets pioneered the Reserve Officer Training Corps concept in the Philippines in 1912. In 1935, Commonwealth Act No. 1, also known as the "National Defense Act" was enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth government. CA No...