THE family of the former President Ferdinand Marcos has asked Filipinos to unite amid the ongoing protests following the burial of the former president at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which took the public by surprise on Friday.
“Let my father’s burial be the first day amongst many days of our continuing to work for the unity and the progress of our country,” said Marcos’ namesake and only son former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who, along with his mother Imelda and sisters Imee and Irene, returned to the cemetery on Saturday for a holy mass.
Bongbong said it was his father’s fervent wish that when he came to the end of his days, that he be buried in a simple soldier’s ceremony.
“This was in keeping with his idea that he was but a soldier doing his duty, a citizen serving his country. We have waited 27 years to fulfill that wish that he left us with. But we are here today and we are able to grant him that wish,” he said.
“We heard news that there was a plan to make turmoil. What we don’t want to happen is innocent people to get hurt or injured,” he said.
Imelda also thanked the supporters. She said her husband stood pat for what is right and good for the people. “If you’re in the side of the truth, God is in your side,” she said.
The family also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his recognition of Marcos’ service to the nation, and all the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who came to pay their last respects.
Marcos was buried at the Libingan Friday noon, a week after the Supreme Court decided in favor of the burial.
Metro Manila Police director Oscar Albayalde said the burial was made unannounced to ensure peace and order situation during the solemn event.
Marcos’ eldest daughter and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said they made the burial to be private because they want a solemn and peaceful funeral march. She apologized to the people for the family’s sudden decision.
The camp of former Vice President Jejomar Binay revealed that during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III, the Marcos family already agreed to the proposal that the burial be made in Batac, Ilocos Norte. But Mr. Aquino ignored it and failed to act on the proposal of Binay.
“The Aquino administration missed an opportunity to lay the Marcos burial issue to rest when it did not act on former Vice President Binay’s recommendation made as early as 2011 to allow the burial of Marcos in Batac, Ilocos Norte,” said Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado.