President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the army to bury Marcos, who ruled with an iron fist for two decades, at the cemetery, saying he was fulfilling a campaign promise to have him interred there as a former president and soldier. As for me, I can only hope that he changes his mind until the last minute. However, ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcaster, said more than 400 other people have been killed since then by shadowy assassins who leave cardboard signs beside their victims accusing them of narcotics crimes.
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“The interment of the remains of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the conferment of a hero’s burial have far-reaching implications apart from a mere personal injury to the Petitioners”. At least 1,500 protesters gathered on 14 August to say that giving him a “hero’s” burial would be a “grave injustice” to his victims.
Duterte gave the go-ahead Sunday for the burial, which is expected next month.
Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman, said former President Benigno Aquino III asked Binay in April 2011 to study the issue of burying Marcos at the LNMB.
“The Court directed the respondents to comment on the petition and the application for temporary restraining order within a non-extendible period of five days from today”, Atty. The Philippine experience under the Marcos dictatorship should not be emulated and can not serve as an inspiration to this generation and to the next generation of Filipinos.
“The President’s stance, however, remains firm: There is clarity in the regulations governing the late President Marcos burial”, he added.
Petitioners noted that Section 27 of Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies State Policies) provides that “State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption”.
Not a single martial law victim has ever received any reparation, in line with the three-year implementation of the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10368).
Since his death in 1989, Marcos’ remains had been lying in the mausoleum in his hometown of Batac.
Said the NHCP: Marcos “lied about receiving the US Medal of Honor, Silver Star, and Order of the Purple Heart”, a claim he made as early as 1945; his supposed guerrilla unit, Ang Mga Maharlika, was “never officially recognized, and neither was his leadership of it”.
The move by Duterte, a former Marcos foe who reached out to the family during his presidential run, reflects the country’s often shifting political alliances, and the reaction against it underscores the trauma that racked Philippine society during the Marcos era and that has continued to divide Filipinos since his ouster.
“That’s why the nation is once again torn by debates over a contentious issue that could have been buried a long time ago”, he said. “We are hoping the president will listen”, said Abana.
His father and namesake and Marcos’ chief nemesis was assassinated in 1983 upon his return from exile in the United States.
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LAOAG CITY, Philippines- Strongman Ferdinand Marcos died in exile in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 28, 1989, and a plane loaded with Filipino migrants brought home his body four years later.
