Marcos military honors an insult to rights victims, says group

An organization of former political prisoners established during Martial Law criticized on Thursday the plan to give full military honors to the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. In a statement, the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) described the plan as an insult to human rights victims. "It is up to the AFP to “honor" the fascist dictator who pillaged, plundered, bludgeoned, imprisoned, tortured and raped our country for 14 long years under martial law. If these honors will be bestowed, it clearly illustrates the military’s allegiance to icons of barbarity and rabid violators of people’s rights such as Marcos," said Marie Hilao Enriquez, SELDA chairperson. Enriquez is the daughter of one of the plaintiffs in the class suit against Marcos filed before the United States Federal Court system on April 7, 1986, barely two months after the late Philippine leader's ouster. She said that while SELDA welcomes Vice President Jejomar Binay's reported recommendation not to allow Marcos' body to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, she noted that giving the former president full military honors would "distort" history by trying to honor him as a hero. "His ouster by the people in 1986, the extensive human rights violations during the dictatorship, and his family and government’s plunder. These and his numerous crimes against the Filipino people clearly show that he is not a hero," she said. "The youth must be taught how the nation suffered under the dictatorship but also how its people fought it, with many of its finest sons and daughters answering the call of the struggle for justice and freedom. They are the real heroes," added SELDA vice chairperson Bonifacio Ilagan, who was also a former political detainee during Martial Law. Make a decision Ilagan likewise asked President Benigno Aquino III to immediately declare his stand on the issue and "heed the people’s calls" against a hero’s burial for Marcos. Aquino had said that he will inihibit from deciding on the matter and subsequently left the decision to Binay. Earlier, a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper cited a Malacañang source as saying that Binay recommended Marcos’ burial in his native Ilocos Norte province, with full military honors. The report also quoted Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the late strongman’s son, as seemingly warm to the idea. Marcos’ family had pushed for the late president’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The Palace, however, declined to comment and said that the President was still studying the recommendations forwarded to him. Public opinion Earlier, Binay said the public may send their reactions and comments via e-mail or text message. He likewise asked the opinion of several groups and political parties. After submitting his recommendation, Binay said his recommendation was "very balanced." "All sides were considered. Every opinion from every person who responded to the survey was given consideration," he said. A survey by pollster SWS for the first quarter of 2011 had found that a "virtually exact split opinion" between supporters and opponents of the idea to let Marcos be buried at the Heroes' Cemetery. Meanwhile, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, who served as agriculture minister during the Marcos regime, had earlier proposed House Resolution 1135, urging Aquino to allow the burial of the late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. 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. — RSJ, GMA News