Citizens gather at Luneta Park in Manila on Sunday to protest the hero’s burial intended for former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. Marcos is set to be transferred to the heroes’ cemetery from Batac, Ilocos Norte on September 18. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Aug 15 (Mabuhay) — Martial Law victims turned to the Supreme Court on Monday to stop the government’s plan to bury the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
In a petition, the victims, led by former Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Satur Ocampo, Neri Colmenares, and Bonifacio Ilagan, accused the government of grave abuse of discretion for allowing the burial.
Named respondents in the petition were Rear Admiral Ernesto Enriquez, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and the heirs of the late president represented by his spouse, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos.
The petitioners said the planned burial approved by President Rodrigo Duterte violates Republic Act 289, which only allows the burial of a president or soldier worthy of public inspiration and emulation.
They also said the burial is contrary to public policy under the law (Republic Act 10638) that recognizes the massive human rights violations under the Marcos regime and is against the 1993 deal between the Philippine government and the Marcos family that the former leader’s remains should be buried in his home province of Ilocos Norte.
Duterte has been unwavering in his stand to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on the basis of Marcos being a former president and a soldier who took part in the resistance movement against the Japanese during World War II.
Human rights victims and opponents of the Marcos family denounced the President’s decision, braving the rain and mud on Sunday to call on Duterte to change his mind.
Marcos was ousted from power in 1986 following a People Power revolt. He died three years later while on exile in Hawaii. (MNS)