Palace on Marcos burial ruling: Time to move forward

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday, November 8, expressed hope that the Supreme Court ruling in favor of a hero’s burial for former president Ferdinand Marcos would finally allow Filipinos to “move forward.”

“We hope the matter will finally be laid to rest, and that the nation find the wherewithal to move forward and to continue forging a nation that is peaceable, just and fair to all,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement he released to media shortly after the SC officially announced its verdict.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief counsel said the SC ruling would finally move the nation away from an “unproductive” issue that has divided the country for decades.

“It’s about time the nation moves on and confronts the more pressing concerns of the country rather than linger on an emotional issue that is unproductive as it is divisive,” Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a statement in response to news reports on the SC ruling later officially announced by the High Court.

Panelo said that “as expected,” the decision of the High Court “validates our theory that the law and the regulations allow the burial of ex-Presidents and soldiers in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.”

“Hopefully, the decision will put to rest the opposition to the burial of Marcos,” said Panelo.

Panelo used to be one of the lawyers of the Marcos family who handled cases in relation to the goverment’s efforts to recover money stolen by the Marcoses. (READ: Duterte’s spokesman Panelo and his high-profile cases)

In an interview on ANC, Solicitor General Jose Calida said he believed that the “primordial reason” behind the SC ruling was the petioners’ “failure to prove the grave abuse of discretion of President Rodrigo Duterte in allowing the interment of the remains of former president Marcos at the LIbingan.”

Calida also said in a statement that the ruling is a major step towards national reconciliation as “it puts to rest the bitter debate which has divided our people for far too long.”

During the presidential campaign President Rodrigo Duterte had promised the Marcoses – who supported his bid – a hero’s burial for the late strongman if he won.

The President ordered preparations for Marcos’ state interment in August, which was later questioned by 6 petitions filed before the SC by Martial Law victims, among other petitioners. (READ: TIMELINE: The Marcos burial controversy)

The High Court voted 9-5, rejecting the petitions that sought to stop the burial of the late dictator. – Rappler.com