MANILA, Philippines – A day after the Supreme Court (SC) allowed former president Ferdinand Marcos’ interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos said the burial ceremony would be kept “simple.”

“Sa aking personal, hindi naman bonggang-bonggang funeral na sinasabing hero’s welcome and state funeral at ewan ko na iniisip ng tao. Ang sa akin, ang gusto ng tatay ko is a simple soldier’s burial. And ‘yun nga, ‘yung pangkaraniwang paglilibing ng isang kawal ang kanyang minimithi all these years and truly, ‘yun ang ating dapat ibigay,” Imee told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday, November 9.

(For me personally, it will not be a grand funeral like the hero’s welcome or state funeral that people are thinking about. For me, my father wants a simple soldier’s burial all these years and truly, that’s what we should give him.)

The SC voted 9-5 to junk all the petitions seeking to bar Marcos’ burial at the national shrine for heroes located in Taguig City. (READ: Supreme Court: Marcos was not pure evil) 

This means that preparations for the transfer of Marcos’ remains from Ilocos to the Libingan ng mga Bayani – which were halted, following the status quo ante order earlier issued by the SC – are expected to continue.

Following the rules of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, however, burial privileges of a former president and commander-in-chief like Marcos will not be the same as those of other soldiers at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The size, area, and grave markers, for example, all depend on the deceased’s position.

Section A of the cemetery, which has 46 slots, is allotted only for presidents and commanders-in-chief. Their families are also entitled to build a tomb, status, or both to mark their graves.

The Marcoses have yet to decide on the date for the burial, though Imee Marcos hopes it will be done at the soonest possible time, given their declared intention to avoid fanfare during the ceremony.

“Kapag state funeral halimbawa hihimlay muna ‘yan sa Malacañang, then they take the body to the Senate, to Congress, and all the official places. There’s a national day of mourning blah, blah, blah. All these things are palamuti na lang; ‘di yan mahalaga. Ang importante na kilalanin na lumaban siya para sa ating bansa,” Marcos said. 

Her brother and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr also gave assurances that Marcos loyalists would be able to attend the burial. 

“We will try to accommodate all the people who would like to pay their final respects to my father,” Bongbong said in another CNN Philippines interview.

Marcos’ heirs will be shouldering the added costs of his interment. Philippine Army spokesperson Benjamin Hao, also the protocol officer for the Marcos burial, said the Marcoses made that offer as early as August. 

Hao said the Army will continue preparations for Marcos’ interment once their headquarters issues the orders. The next step will be meeting with the Marcos family to discuss the date of burial, plans for the burial site, and details of the burial ceremony, among others. 

The Marcos siblings Imee and Bongbong both thanked the SC magistrates for voting in favor of their family. 

Bongbong prayed that the SC ruling would lead to “national healing.” Imee, meanwhile, told her father’s critics to “let go” of their grudges against Marcos, whose 21-year rule was mired in killings, torture, disappearances, media oppression, and corruption. 

Petitioners and Martial Law victims, however, argued that the ruling will not heal the wounds caused by the Marcos regime. (READ: ‘History lost its meaning’: Petitioners react to SC ruling on Marcos burial)

The petitioners are eyeing the filing of a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court. – Rappler.com