PNoy: Binay to decide on Marcos burial issue

Citing his "personal bias" on the issue about the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III asked Vice President Jejomar Binay to decide on the matter. “I’ve talked to the Vice President and I asked him if he could be the one to decide on the case. Dahil sabi nga kahit ano pa ang desisyon ko sasabihin na me bias ako," told reporters on Wednesday. Aquino spoke with reporters after attending a youth day activity at the Rizal High School (RHS) in Pasig City entitled “Pilipinas Got Bukas" in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the People Power Revolution. RHS is the largest secondary school in the world based on the size of its student population, according to the Guinness World Records. Marcos' burial Earlier, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late president, expressed hope that the Aquino administration will put aside politics and allow his father to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. However, Aquino decided last week to inhibit himself from deciding on the issue of Marcos' burial. Aquino said he will let “somebody who has less personal attachment decide on it." Before Binay left for China last week, Aquino discussed the issue of Marcos' burial with him. The 20-year reign of Marcos ended after the People Power Revolution in 1986, which helped put into power Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. Aquino’s father, Senator Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was a senator who belonged to the opposition during Marcos' term. Ninoy was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983. The airport was later renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in his honor. Opposing Marcos' burial Aquino said several quarters were opposing Marcos' burial at the cemetery reserved for heroes. “Marami nang quarters na nagsasabi na hindi dapat pero ayokong magsalita dahil sasabihin na personal at noong ako po ay hindi pa pangulo alam naman po ninyo ang opinion ko at hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi pa nagbabago," the President said. During the campaign for the presidential elections last year, Aquino said there was no reason to honor Marcos by burying him at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The President said Binay also has a strong opinion on the matter but he believed the latter’s decision will receive less criticisms than his. “Isa rin po siyang may strong opinion about the matter pero siguro naman less ang criticisms," Aquino said. He assured that Binay will give the matter a fair treatment. “He (Binay) will give it a fair hearing then he will…tell the result of the study," the President 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. – VVP, GMA News