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[av_heading heading=’SC OKs Marcos burial at heroes’ cemetery ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) cleared all the legal obstacles for the burial of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City.
In a 9-5 vote, the high court junked the consolidated petitions blocking President Rodrigo Duterte’s order that Marcos be buried at the cemetery where former presidents, war veterans and soldiers were also interred.
Dictator Marcos was ousted via the peaceful People Power Revolution in 1986. He died at age 72 on Sept. 28, 1989 while in exile in Hawaii. His remains were brought back to the country in 1993 during the term of then President Fidel Ramos, a cousin.
Those who favored Marcos’ burial at the LNMB were associate justices Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez, Teresita de Castro, Jose Mendoza, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
“The majority found that the allotment of a cemetery plot at the LNMB for former President Marcos as a former commander-in-chief, legislator, secretary of National Defense, military personnel, veteran, and Medal of Valor awardee, whether recognizing his contributions or simply his status as such, satisfies the public use requirement,” Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te said as he read the summary of the decision.
Those against the LNMB burial for Marcos were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, associate justices Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza, and Benjamin Caguioa.
”There are certain things that are better left for history — not this court — to adjudge. The court could only do so much in accordance with clearly established rules and principles. Beyond that, it is ultimately for the people themselves, as the sovereign, to decide, a task that may require the better perspective that the passage of time provides. In the meantime, the country must move on and let this issue rest,” Te read a part of the decision’s summary.
Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes inhibited from the case. He administered the oath of Duterte and formerly lawyered for the family of former President Benigno Aquino III.
Duterte did not commit grave abuse of discretion when he ordered the burial of Marcos at the LNMB, according to Te, citing the high court decision.
He also said Marcos “was not convicted of any crime, not dishonorably discharged, not convicted by final judgment of moral turpitude.”
Marcos’ remains are kept in a refrigerated glass-paneled crypt at the Marcos family mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The high court also ruled that President Duterte is not bound by the 1992 agreement between the Marcos family and former President Ramos which provided that the late strongman’s remains will be interred in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
“As the incumbent, President Duterte is free to amend, revoke or rescind political agreements entered into by his predecessors and to determine policies which he considers, based on informed judgment and presumed wisdom, will be most effective in carrying out his mandate,” it added.
BONGBONG TO CRITICS: ‘MOVE ON’
Former senator and losing vice presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. welcomed the Supreme Court ruling.
“We are deeply grateful…Once again, the Supreme Court has taken a magnanimous act to uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Marcos Jr. also extended his family’s “sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever be thankful for his kind gesture.”
The namesake of the disgraced President, who placed the country under a brutal martial law beginning September 1972, said it was his family’s “sincerest hope that this will lead the nation towards healing as we endeavor to move the country forward to give every Filipino a better life.”
Sister and Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos, for her part, encouraged anti-Marcos people to respect the high court’s decision.
“Twenty-seven years naming hinintay ito. Malaking bagay ito para sa amin,” she said. “Galangin natin at tumalima tayo sa hatol ng Korte Suprema.”
She added: “Kung anuman ang kanilang galit at sama ng loob, let it go,” she added. “Magpatawad na po tayo. Lahat tayo ay may kinikimkim na sama ng loob. Tayo ay magkaisa na para sa ikabubuti ng bansa.”
ANTI-MARCOS: ‘DECISION SHOCKING’
The petitioners against the LNMB burial for Marcos expressed disappointment.
“Tuloy ang laban natin. Subukan nating lumapit kay President Duterte,” said former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares.
Albay representative Edcel Lagman said in a statement they will be plotting their next moves, which include filing a motion for reconsideration for the reversal of the high court’s verdict.
“While I respect the decision of the Supreme Court, I am puzzled no end why the majority would allow the burial of a judicially and historically confirmed despot, plunderer and transgressor of human rights at the LNMB,” Lagman said.
He added: “A high sense of patriotism and the common standards of reason and logic bar the interment of Marcos in the Cemetery of Heroes.”
“We are in shock as everyone with the verdict,” said Bayan Muna representative Ibarra Guttierez. “We’ll just have to make sure that public interest generated by the case can move forward.”
Separate petitions were filed by former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, et al.; Lagman, et al., former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, et al., former senator Heherson Alvarez, et al.; and Zaira Baniaga, et al.
The petitions, which were consolidated by the SC, said Marcos’ burial at the LNMB would be a “grave injustice” to the victims of martial rule during the former dictator’s term.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), meantime, arguing on behalf of respondents, pointed out that Duterte’s order for Marcos’ burial at the LNMB “is in keeping with laws.”
Marcos was supposed to be buried at the LNMB on Sept. 18 but the high court halted the preparations through a status quo ante order thrice to give way for thorough deliberations, including oral arguments, on the case.
The LNMB is a cemetery dedicated for slain Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel, war heroes, former Cabinet officials, national artists, national scientists, and former presidents./PN
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