PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III remains opposed to the burial of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, a Palace spokesman said Tuesday.
“Kindly review what President [Aquino] has stated previously in Focap [Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines] and other public fora. I am not aware of any change in his position,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement.
In 2011, the President told the foreign press that it would be the “height of injustice” to render state honors to Marcos who made the Filipino people suffer during the Martial Law period. At the time, Aquino noted that many Martial Law victims have not even been given an apology or compensation.
“ I will not be sanctioning a burial for the late President Marcos… not under my watch,” Aquino said in his Focap interview.
But incoming President Rodrigo Duterte said he would make good his campaign pronouncement to allow Marcos’ burial at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.
Since his death in 1989, the dictator’s burial at the heroes’ cemetery had been met with opposition because of abuses committed during the Martial Law regime.
But Duterte, in a recent press conference, said that Marcos should be buried at the cemetery because he had served as a soldier.
“I will allow Marcos burial in Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, not because he was a hero but because he was a Filipino soldier,” said Duterte.
Asked when this would happen, he replied: “That can be arranged immediately.” He added that he had no problem with holding the burial on Marcos’ birth anniversary, Sept. 11.
Duterte said denying Marcos a place at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani has created division in the country.
“This issue has long created a division among our people. Almost all of the Ilocanos are hurting. All of them. They are angry at what has been done to him,” he said in Filipino.
“He was a soldier. He doesn’t have to be a hero. Not everyone buried there was a hero,” he added.
Duterte said he didn’t know if the decision would unite Filipinos, but said it would “erase… one hatred.”
Asked about the reaction of Martial Law victims, Duterte said their families can claim compensation.
“The money is there,” he said.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to Duterte.
“We are deeply grateful for the statement of our incoming President Rodrigo Duterte favoring the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. It has always been our family’s position that it is our father’s right under the law to be buried there being a soldier and a former President of this country,” the senator said in a statement.
“Our campaign has always been towards achieving unity to move the country forward. And it is this kind of pronouncement that we hope could end the decades of divisiveness that have been imposed upon us by our leaders. We would like to thank President Duterte for this kind, rightful and healing gesture,” he added.