PNoy: Marcos lost right to hero's burial when he usurped power

In an interview with reporters in New York on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), Aquino maintained his opposition to calls for Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. 

 

"Ang tanong: Kung may karapatan siya bilang pangulong lehitimo, hindi ba natabunan ‘nung pagiging pangulo niya na hindi na lehitimo, itong 13 years? Kasi ‘yung Libingan ng mga Bayani isang karangalan para sa mga dating talagang naglingkod sa bayan," the President said.

 

Aquino added that Marcos' military records were also questionable.

 

The President further said that giving Marcos a hero's burial may "hurt" the feelings of families of rightful public officials and soldiers whose remains are at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. 

 

"'Pag inilibing sa isang napakaimportanteng libingan, tinawag na Libingan ng mga Bayani, siguro dapat walang question," Aquino said.

 

By virtue of AFP Regulation 161-375, former presidents and war veterans can be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

 

'Height of injustice'

 

In 2011, Aquino already rejected proposals to give Marcos a hero's burial, saying such a move will be "the height of injustice" to Martial Law victims.

Marcos served as Philippine president for two terms starting 1965, before placing the country under Martial Law in 1972.

 

The Martial Law period was marked by human rights abuses and corruption in government. Marcos eventually lifted military rule on January 17, 1981.

 

President Aquino's father, Benigno Jr., was assassinated in 1983 upon his arrival in Manila, a crime widely blamed on the Marcos presidency.

 

President Aquino's mother, Corazon, meanwhile replaced Marcos as president after the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. 

 

Inexplicable

 

The President also maintained that there was nothing personal about his opposition to a hero's burial for Marcos. 

 

He however said that he would find it inexplicable for him to give the late dictator such an honor.

 

"Wala sa kakayahan kong ipaliwanag sa taumbayan kung bakit dapat siyang bigyan ng ganoong karangalan," Aquino said.

 

On Monday, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the late dictator's son, expressed hopes that Aquino will allow a state burial for the former president, in the spirit of reconciliation.

 

The younger Marcos also said his family is even open to burying former President Marcos in Ilocos Norte with military honors—a proposal earlier raised by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the decision on what to do with the late dictator's remains is already up to the Marcos family.  — ELR, GMA News