[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’No Senate opinion vs FM hero’s burial ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – Senate failed to adopt a resolution opposing the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Only eight senators voted to adopt Senate Resolution No. 86. Under Senate rules, a majority vote or 11 votes are needed to pass a resolution.
Author Risa Hontiveros, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Leila de Lima, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva favored the resolution.
Voting against it were Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan II, Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, and Cynthia Villar.
Minority Leader Ralph Recto, Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Juan Miguel Zubiri abstained.
Hontiveros stated in her resolution that the human rights violations committed during the Marcos administration are enough reasons not to allow the late dictator’s burial at the Libingan.
She also cited the Armed Forces of the Philippines regulation that prohibits soldiers, war veterans, presidents, and other individuals “who were dishonorably separated, reverted or discharged from the service and those who were convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude” from being buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
Gordon argued that putting the resolution to a vote implies that the Supreme Court is a Marcos court — a “very bad signal.”
Drilon disagreed with him, saying a “political body” like the Senate has every right to express its sentiment, especially on a political decision.
“The SC (Supreme Court) said this was a political decision … It is not disrespect [of] the SC. We place ourselves on the record. Let history judge us after this day,” said the Ilonggo senator.
Sotto, Lacson and Recto urged their colleagues to respect the high tribunal’s decision.
“The Supreme Court already ruled it is legal to bury former president Marcos at the Libingan ng Bayani and said there is no grave abuse of discretion (on the part of President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the burial),” Recto said.
But he maintained that Marcos is not a hero, just a former president and soldier./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
