No definite date yet for the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos
Malacañang on Thursday said there is no definite date yet for the interment of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
This is the statement of the Palace after President Rodrigo Duterte early Sunday gave the green light to bury former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Duterte said Marcos, as former president and a soldier, is qualified to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Earlier reports said Marcos will be buried at the heroes’ cemetery on September 18.
“There is no definite date as of now. The only thing that is certain is that he will be accorded ceremonies fitting a president,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a press briefing in Malacañang.
The announcement came after reports claimed the Marcos family wants the former leader buried at the said cemetery on September 18, a week after the latter’s birthday.
Duterte said he is willing to allow the Marcos family decide on the date of the burial, saying they can even set the date of the burial on the former president’s birthday on September 11.
The Libingan ng mga Bayani was established in 1947 to pay tribute to Filipino soldiers and fallen heroes, and to serve as a final resting place for former Philippine presidents, war veterans, notable government statesmen, dignitaries and national artists.
“He is qualified to be buried there. Kung ayaw ng ibang Pilipino, fine,” Duterte said. “Mag-demonstrate kayo, go ahead. You can use the streets.”
Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said they will oppose moves to stop Malacañang from granting hero’s burial to the late strongman as such have no legal basis.
“I’d like to remind our countrymen that during the campaign, President Duterte repeatedly said if he becomes president he would bury and allow the burial of Mr. Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani that is a promise and commitment he made as candidate,” Panelo said.
Some groups are set to hold a protest on August 14 to show opposition on the plan for hero’s burial.
MGA OPPOSITION SA PAGLIBING KAY MARCOS AY HINDI MGA CRISTIANO , DAHIL KUNG KAYO AY MA KA DIYOS DAPAT MAGPATAWAD KAYO. KUNG KAYO NGA PINATAWAD NG PANGINOON SA MGA KASALANAN NINYO SINO KAYO NA HINDI MARUNONG MAGPATAWAD. KUNG SI MARCOS AY PUPUNTA SA IMPIYERNO DAHIL SA MGA KASALAN NIYA AY KAYO DIN AY SA IMPIYERNO DIN ANG BAGSAK NINYO. PHILIPPINES SUPPOSE TO BE A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY , APPARENTLY THE PEOPLE ARE NOT.