Facebook lifts 24-hour ban on PH journalist critical of Marcos burial

‪MANILA, Philippines – Facebook has lifted a 24-hour ban on Philippine journalist Ed Lingao, who had made critical posts on the plan to allow the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery).‬

‪Facebook had imposed a temporary ban on Lingao and removed two of his posts following a review by Facebook moderators. ‬

‪Lingao posted a screen shot of the email sent to him by Facebook Community Operations on Thursday, June 2. According to the email, a Facebook Community Operations team member accidentally removed Lingao’s Facebook post‬.

‪”This was a mistake and we sincerely apologize for this error. We’ve since restored the content and you should now be able to see it,” Facebook added.‬

‪Lingao, however, noted that his original post critical of Marcos’ burial plan “is still down.”‬

‪On Wednesday, June 1, Lingao lamented about the removal of his post on the burial issue, supposedly “because I violated Facebook community standards.”‬

‪”Are they serious? It makes you wonder if the Facebook reviewers even read what they strike down,” he wrote on Facebook.‬

‪In a May 24 Facebook post, the TV5 anchor questioned the basis for President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s reasoning that allowing a Marcos burial would begin a “healing” process that would allow the Philippines to move on over the divisive and controversial issue. ‬

The proposal is opposed by various sectors, including some relatives of those buried there. (READ: Relatives mull move out of Heroes’ Cemetery to protest Marcos burial)

‪Under the rules of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which oversees the Libingan ng mga Bayani, ‬those who have been dishonorably discharged from service, or personnel convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, do not qualify for interment at the cemetery. (READ: Who can be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery? AFP explains rules) ‪– ‬Rappler.com