Robredo: Marcos hero’s burial not consistent with morality, EDSA spirit

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, November 8, lamented the Supreme Court ruling in favor of a hero’s burial for dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying it is inconsistent with “morality” as well as the spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

“It might pass the bar of legal technicality, but can never be consistent with morality and the spirit of the Filipino people power revolution. Our nation’s healing begins with the acknowledgement of the truth and resolution of the past,” Robredo said in a statement.

“To bury Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani would keep the wounds of the past unhealed,” she added. (READ: Hero’s burial for Marcos puts to waste fight vs dictatorship)

The position of the Vice President, a Cabinet official, is contrary to the stand of the Duterte administration that the state interment for Marcos would pave the way for national healing and unity. (READ: Palace on Marcos burial ruling: Time to move forward)

Robredo, who has consistently opposed a hero’s burial for Marcos, said she is “deeply saddened” by the ruling and reiterated her position that there can be no national healing without the Marcoses’ acknowledgement of the state-sanctioned atrocities committed during the Martial Law years of their late patriatch.

“We have consistently opposed the burial of the Martial Law dictator in the heroes’ sacred ground. Their family’s refusal to take responsibility for atrocities of the regime is an insult to the Filipino people,” she said. (READ: Marcos on dad’s regime: What am I to apologize for?)

Future repercussions

In an interview in Tacloban City, where she joined the government’s commemoration of the third anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Robredo said while she respects the decision of the Supreme Court, she felt “very sad” about the ruling.

“Iyong repercussions nito in the future, napakalaki (The future repercussions are huge),” she said of the SC decision.

When asked, the Vice President said that she had expressed her contrary view on the issue during the Cabinet meeting.

“Sinabi ko naman ang opposition ko and I even thanked the President na kahit magkasalungat ang aming views, he did not take this against me (I already expressed my opposition and I even thanked the President that even if if we have opposite views, he did not take this against me),” she said.

Robredo has been vocal about her opposition to a hero’s burial for Marcos, even during the campaign period. In February, she said interment at the Heroes’ Shrine is something granted to people who “deserved it” and not someone like the former president, who plundered the nation and sanctioned human rights abuses.

She reiterated her position in early August, when it was reported that the military was preparing for the burial upon orders of President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte had made the promise to his supporters, the Marcoses, during the campaign.

“It is our responsibility to teach our children the heroism and sacrifice of our forefathers. And Mr Marcos is no hero. How can we allow a hero’s burial for a man who has plundered our country and was responsible for the death and disappearance of many Filipinos?” Robredo said in August.

Robredo won in a tight vice presidential race against former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Marcos Jr has filed a protest with the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, alleging fraud. (READ Robredo’s reply in August: Why SC should dismiss Marcos Jr’s protest.) – Rappler.com