CJ: Why use public funds to fulfill Duterte’s promise to bury Marcos?

Mara Cepeda

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

CJ: Why use public funds to fulfill Duterte’s promise to bury Marcos?
Chief Justice Sereno asks if 'the rights of the 75,000 human rights violation victims and their families' must be set aside for national healing

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno questioned why public funds should be spent to fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s wish to give former president Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial.

Sereno interpellated Solicitor General Jose Calida during the Supreme Court’s (SC) second round of oral arguments on Wednesday, September 7.

Calida, who is representing the respondents from the government, had earlier argued that Duterte’s decision on Marcos’ burial is “beyond the ambit of judicial review.” He, however, said that the President would follow the decision of the High Court.

Calida said Duterte only wants national healing, which is why he has been supporting a hero’s interment for Marcos since the campaign period. Duterte went on to win by a landslide with 16 million votes.

“But you cannot use public money to fulfill a political promise. We want to know what are other justifications to use public funds [for Marcos’ burial],” Sereno said.

Last week Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio asked a similar question. Given his line of questioning, Carpio appeared to imply that because former president Ferdinand Marcos was dishonorably discharged as commander-in-chief, public funds cannot be used for his burial.

During Wednesday’s 2nd round or oral arguments, Sereno also asked: “The rights of the 75,000 human rights violation victims and their families, we must set them aside, their feelings on the matter [for national healing?]” 

The 21-year rule of Marcos was mired in killings, torture, disappearances, corruption, and media oppression. Sereno even asked some women who were Martial Law victims to share their experiences of rape and torture during the SC’s 1st round of oral arguments.

According to Calida, Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not affect the reparation for Martial Law victims prescribed by Republic Act Number 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparations Act.

The law recognizes the horrific ordeal of Martial Law victims by compensating them for the damages they suffered. The law also mandates the establishment of memorials for the victims.

“There is no relation between the interment of the deceased with the efforts of government to provide compensation to the victims,” said Calida. 

NO TO BURIAL. Protesters gather outside the Supreme Court during Day 2 of oral arguments on September 7, 2016. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

Sereno, however, said Filipino taxpayers, not the Marcoses, are paying for the financial reparation for the victims. (READ: What the gov’t still owes Martial Law victims)

“Where is the reparation, where is the acknowledgment, where is the confession, where is the penalty on the part of the Marcoses?” asked the Chief Justice.

Reconciliation

The Solicitor General then urged the SC justices to look beyond the needs of the Martial Law victims. 

“We must look beyond the needs of human rights [violations] victims. There are also other provinces, tribes who want reconciliation by burying Marcos at Libingan,” Calida said. 

He added that Duterte’s preference for a hero’s burial for the late dictator is part of the administration’s intent to bring about change, the tagline of the Duterte campaign. 

“The political promise has already metamorphosed into a public purpose, which is the concept of national healing and reconciliation, which is a matter of public interest,” said Calida. 

“This (Marcos’ burial at LNMB) is now part of the administration’s efforts to create a psyche of transformation. He (Duterte) wants a unified Philippines,” he added. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Clothing, Apparel, Person

author

Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.