DAVAO CITY – Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc expressed their opposition to the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as President Rodrigo Duterte gave the go signal for the preparations for the hero’s burial for Marcos.
Bayan Muna Rep.Carlos Isagani Zarate on Monday, August 8 said that Marcos’ remains should stay in Ilocos Norte.
“We should not allow the unrepentant Marcoses to use the burial issue in advancing their revisionist lies on the blood-drenched legacy of the dictator,” Zarate said.
He said that: “No amount of embellishment can whitewash the plunder, terror and grave human rights violations perpetrated during the reign of Marcos, a dictator and certainly not a bayani.”
Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao said Marcos was “a traitor to the Filipino people, who brought about the atrocity victimizing at least more than a hundred thousand Filipinos, workers, farmers and other marginalized sectors.”
“He is a traitor of democracy when he proclaimed Martial Law in September 1972, he trampled upon the will of the Filipino people,” Casilao said.
He also said that Marcos’ accomplishments during the Second World War is questioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
“The burying of Marcos at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani,” basically declaring him as a ‘hero’ is contemptuous to the sacrifices of Martial Law martyrs and victims who stood up against the dictatorship and fought for democracy,” he added.
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio to afford a hero’s burial to the late President “is to memorialize impunity.”
During his visit at the wake of four soldiers slain in Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, here early Sunday, August 7, President Duterte said he will allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani saying former Presidents and soldiers are allowed to be buried there.
“Marcos was a soldier, sinabi lang ng mga kalaban na hindi totoo (his enemies would just claim that it is not true),” he said.
“Definitely he is a President and a soldier, he is qualified to be buried there,” Duterte added.
On the same day, the Department of National Defense has issued a memorandum to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Ricardo Visaya on Sunday, August 7 to start the planning and preparations of the former President.(davaotoday.com)
