Lawmakers, NGO file 2nd petition vs Marcos hero’s burial

Patty Pasion

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Lawmakers, NGO file 2nd petition vs Marcos hero’s burial
Congressmen have joined the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances in a bid to stop the burial of the late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

MANILA, Philippines – Several lawmakers and the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) have filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the scheduled interment of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman, principal author of the Republic Act 10368 or the Martial Law Victims Reparations Act, represented FIND in the petition filed Monday afternoon, August 15.

Members of the House minority bloc such as Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr, Akbayan Representative Tomasito Villarin, Capiz First District Emmanuel Billones, and Caloocan Secondnd District Edgar Erice joined FIND in the second petition against a hero’s burial for Marcos. (READ: Groups mull asking SC to stop Marcos hero’s burial

Groups composed of Martial Law victims – Samahan ng Mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detention at Aresto  (Selda), Coalition Against the Return of the Marcoses in Malacañang (Carmma) – and Bayan Muna filed a separate petition for injuction on Monday.

The second petition raised the following points on why Marcos does not deserve a slot in the national heroes’ cemetery:

  • Marcos committed “grievous sins against the Filipino people” because of the human rights violations during his time
  • His qualification for a slot in the national shrine as a former soldier and president is “diminished and completely nullified by his cardinal offenses against the Filipino nation”
  • RA 10368 is a “legislative and executive validation” of the human rights violations committed during his regime
  • RA 10368 modified the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) guidelines, which “implicitly disqualifies” Marcos for a slot due to the atrocities committed during Martial Law
  • Foreign courts and the Philippine Supreme Court have found Marcos “culpable of widespread human rights violations and amassing ill-gotten wealth”
  • RA 289, which directed the construction of the national shrine, only allows the burial of former presidents “worthy of emulation”
  • The Marcos family’s deal with President Fidel Ramos waived the burial at the national shrine in exchange for his remains to be brought home directly to Laoag, Ilocos Norte

“No less than President Rodrigo Duterte declared in his State of the Nation Address that those who betrayed the people’s trust must be punished and reckoned,” the petitioners also pointed out.

They said this pronouncement contradicts the Chief Executive’s decision to allow Marcos’ burial at the revered shrine.

The SC was also urged to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the planned interment in September.

Duterte earlier said that he will respect the Court’s decision but remained firm on his decision favoring the Marcos family. – Rappler.com

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Patty Pasion

Patty leads the Rappler+ membership program. She used to be a Rappler multimedia reporter who covered politics, labor, and development issues of vulnerable sectors.