OF the many prominent persons (VIPs) who paid their respects to the former President Corazon Aquino, one group stood out: the Marcos children Imee and Bongbong, who dropped by at the wake at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon, just an hour before the necrological service.

Quietly, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, son of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, along with his wife, Lisa Araneta, and sister, Imee, went directly to the flag-draped coffin of Mrs. Aquino, which had been transferred to the cathedral since Monday afternoon.

They were guided by the security personnel inside the church after viewing the remains of Cory, and as they sat down on one pew, were met by Aquino’s grandchildren.

Then minutes later, the Marcoses were welcomed by Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the eldest child of Cory.

They left after 20 minutes. Ballsy kissed the siblings on the cheek, and Butz Aquino, the brother of Ninoy, shook their hands.

Lisa Araneta-Marcos is related to the wife of Pedro “Pete” Cojuangco; Imee Marcos said she and Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz were childhood friends.

The congressman, who had carved out his own political career in the family’s bailiwick in Ilocos Norte, politely declined to give a statement to the press, beyond saying, “Nakikiramay lang kami [We just expressed our sympathies],” Bongbong told reporters.

As they walked back to their vehicles parked outside the cathedral, they were again surrounded by media men, but refused to talk.

The Marcoses and the Aquinos have been at odds since before martial law, with then senator Benigno Aquino Jr. as then President Marcos’s bitterest critic. When he declared martial law, he threw Aquino in jail along with thousands of others, and a military tribunal sentenced him to die by musketry. After seven years in jail, however, the government allowed Ninoy to go to the United States for a heart bypass, spending the next three years in exile.

The family feud erupted anew in August 1983, when Aquino was shot dead at the tarmac when he returned home against the advice of Imelda Marcos.

The Aquinos blamed the Marcos regime for Ninoy’s death, and Corazon Aquino as president in 1986 steadfastly rejected all appeals to allow Ferdinand Marcos to return home from Hawaii, where he died in 1989.

Cory refused to allow the remains of former President Marcos in Metro Manila, citing security reasons. Until now, his remains lie is in his hometown in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Until now, the assassination of her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., on August 21, 1983 remains unsolved.

Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Cory’s daughter, said they welcomed the visit of the Marcoses.

“I want to thank them for coming. I can sense the sincerity. Personally, I can feel it,” Pinky Aquino-Abellada said.