Former first lady Imelda Marcos kisses the glass coffin of her husband, late president Ferdinand Marcos, who remains unburied since his death in 1989, during her 85th birthday celebration in Ferdinand Marcos’ hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte province, in northern Philippines…
REUTERS/ERIK DE CASTRO
The government has filed its comment on three petitions against the burial of late former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The Solicitor General is asking the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions and deny the request for the issuance of a temporary restraining order.
Solicitor General Jose Calida argues it is within President Duterte’s power to order the burial of Marcos remains in Heroes’ Cemetery.
He says it is mere acknowledgment of Marcos as a former president and soldier.
The SolGen clarifies that this doesn’t mean that abuses during Martial Law are being pardoned.
President Duterte will also continue to grant reparation to human rights victims.
He adds that President Duterte is not bound by the agreement between Marcos family and former president Fidel Ramos in 1993 where Marcos’ remains was allowed repatriation on the condition that it will be buried in Ilocos.
The Marcos family has also filed their comment on the petitions denying the allegations of human rights violations during Martial Law.
Aside from being irrelevant to the burial of the late president, they said the allegations need to be established with evidence.
Meanwhile, two more petitions were filed before the Supreme Court to oppose Marcos burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
Led by former senator Heherson Alvarez, the group of petitioners says it is against the constitution and Republic Act No. 289.
They say it is clear under the law that only those worthy of emulation and inspiration for the next generations are qualified.
“But it will not be the highest court of the land that will decide this. It will be the conscience and the judgment of our people and of many people in many parts of the world. If we fail in this, we will fail the generations,” Alvarez argued.
The Supreme Court today held a preliminary conference to finalize the issues to be discussed during the oral arguments on Wednesday.
It is expected that after the oral arguments, the high court will decide whether it will stop Marcos’ scheduled interment at the Heroes’ Cemetery on September 18. — Roderic Mendoza / UNTV News & Rescue
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