MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing a hero’s burial for former President Ferdinand Marcos will not erase the human rights violations during his administration, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Tuesday, November 8. 

The High Court voted 9-5 to reject the consolidated petitions by Martial Law victims to stop the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery).

The decision comes 3 months after President Rodrigo Duterte gave his marching orders for burial preparations. (READ: Supreme Court allows hero’s burial for Marcos)

“This decision will not erase the uncontroverted fact of impunity for human rights violations committed during Martial Law that demands justice,” CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon said.

The Marcos administration, spanning 21 years with 10 years under Martial Law, is notorious for the various human rights abuses. Amnesty International recorded about 70,000 people imprisoned, 34,000 tortured, and 3,240 killed from 1972 to 1981 alone – the years when the Philippines was placed under Martial Law. (READ: Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law) 

During the oral arguments conducted on August 31 and September 8 before the Supreme Court, CHR said that burying Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will go against existing human rights considerations in the law. (READ: History and law go against Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani)

“Human rights considerations in both Constitution and International Law run counter to the Duterte administration’s intention to bury the former dictator, particularly the guarantees for reparation and against non-repetition of human rights violations,” Gascon reiterated. 

Duterte, however, consistently took the position Marcos is qualified to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because he was “a former soldier and former president of the Philippines.” – Rappler.com