Marcos should be buried in heroes' cemetery too, says Bongbong

Former Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., whose remains have lain in state inside a refrigerated crypt at his family’s ancestral home since 1993, should finally be allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery), his son and namesake said Wednesday. "We've always said that it's his right as a former president, as a former soldier, as a bemedalled soldier, that he be buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani, and it's very clear that that is his right," Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters on Wednesday. Sen. Marcos issued the statement after the late Angelo Reyes – a former defense secretary and Armed Forces chief of staff – was allowed to be buried at the Libingan despite accusations of corruption that hounded him for several weeks until his death. The younger Marcos, popularly known by his nickname “Bongbong," explained that the only hindrances to his father's final burial at the Libingan were objections raised by those in the previous administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "I think it’s becoming clear that this is very much a political issue... and ordinary people are beginning to see why there is this unequitable treatment," he said. "This is a right that we would like to exercise… hopefully we can put [politics] aside now, and put this issue to rest," he added. The Marcos camp is already in talks with the current administration of Benigno Aquino III regarding the matter, as it has done with administrations before it, Bongbong explained. Earlier in the day, Aquino said he will inhibit himself from deciding on whether the late strongman should be allowed to be buried at the Heroes' Cemetery. (See: Aquino inhibits self from deciding on Marcos burial issue)
Long-standing Marcos-Aquino rivalry Aquino’s father, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was a senator who belonged to the opposition during Marcos' presidency. Considered as Marcos' main political rival in the 1970s, Ninoy was imprisoned under martial law. Returning from exile to lead the growing opposition against an ailing dictator, Ninoy was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. Wide sections of the public suspected Marcos as the mastermind in Ninoy's killing, which fueled gigantic protest actions that eventually led to the February 1986 people's uprising, ending Marcos' 20-year reign and sweeping Ninoy's widow Corazon Aquino into the presidency. Marcos died in Hawaii exile in 1989, and his remains were brought back to the Philippines in 1993. His family pushed for a burial at the Libingan as befits a former President, but strong public opposition led the government to reject the idea. The Marcos family decided to inter his remains at the ancestral Marcos home in Batac, Ilocos Norte, but repeatedly pushed for his final interment at the Libingan. 'It's time to close this chapter' The younger Marcos said that he has nothing personal against Aquino and his family. "There's no enmity, it simply doesn't exist. There's nothing to go away, to take away, or diminish. We don't know each other well enough to like or dislike one another," he said. He likewise said that the public should stop discussing what happened during martial law under his father. "It's time that we close this chapter. The book will not yet be closed, but the chapter will be closed. It's very difficult to move on if we're still talking about events 25 years ago," he said. Those allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani are military personnel who died in line of duty or were honorably discharged, Filipino veterans, former presidents, government dignitaries, statesmen and national artists. The remains of widows of former Philippine presidents, the secretaries of national defense and chiefs of staff are also authorized to be interred in the same plot where their husbands are buried. Martial law victims: 'Marcos is no hero' Victims of human rights abuses during the long Marcos era, however, are saddened by the revival of calls to bury the former dictator at the Libingan, according to GMA News' "24 Oras" newscast. "Personally sa akin hindi pa ako handang ganoon [Personally, I am not yet ready for that]," said Mila Sibayan, a member of Claimants 1081, one of several groups that have been pursuing the class suit against Marcos in a US court. "Itinaboy ng buong Pilipinas yun eh. Tapos tatawagin mong bayani [He was driven away by the entire country. Now you want to call him a hero]," added Sibayan, who was imprisoned for one year under the Marcos regime. Meanwhile, Teresita Cruz, also of Claimants 1081 and who was also jailed for six months under the dictatorship, said burying Marcos at the Libingan and calling him a hero are two different things. "Hindi ako handa doon sa pagtanggap na bayani siya [I am not amenable to calling him a hero]," she said in the same GMA newscast.—With Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMA News