President Ferdinand Marcos shared new details about his late father, the former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s wartime role, when he was working with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).
During the 107th birth anniversary of Marcos Sr. on Wednesday, President Marcos recounted a US visit where he accessed secret records tied to his father’s work during World War II.
“When I was in the United States, I was hosted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA),” Mr. Marcos said.
“I requested to see some of the records about my father when he was working with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of the CIA,” he added.
The president revealed that the CIA granted his request, allowing him to view documents and reports about his father’s activities during the war.
Many of these records, according to the President, remain classified to this day.
“He was greater than I realized,” he said. “The things that he did, the sacrifices he made for the Philippines.”
However, when President Marcos asked if he could make copies of the documents to take home, the CIA declined his request, citing their classified status.
Upon research, Marcos Sr. had political ties to the US during his presidency, however, there is no verified evidence to support the claim that the Marcos patriarch had worked with the OSS.
Marcos Sr. had long asserted his involvement with US forces as a guerrilla leader, but these claims have been disputed. US investigations rejected many of his wartime accomplishments as either exaggerated or fabricated.
