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[av_heading heading=’SC ruling on Marcos hero’s burial marks death of PH justice system – Bayan ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The Supreme Court’s decision allowing the interment of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) has elicited sharp criticism.
According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Panay, it marked the “death” of the Philippine justice system.
“Marcos will never be a hero of this country,” the progressive group said. “His burial at [the Libingan] will forever haunt the Marcoses of their atrocities and looting from and against the people.”
Spokesperson Elmer Forro called it an “insult” to the thousands of victims of human rights violations during martial law.
According to Bayan-Panay, the decision “reverses the dark side of history that favors and even tolerates the brutal killing, abduction and torture of our citizens opposing the repressive and dictatorial state of Marcos.”
It encouraged the public to “unite and oppose” the high court’s decision and not let it revise history.
“The people have already proven that, through collective action, even a government can be toppled,” it said. “The decision calls for greater action from the people. No to a hero’s burial for Marcos. Marcos is not a hero!”
An environmentalist from Antique province also opposed the Supreme Court ruling.
“All the corruption and extrajudicial killings during his term as president do not make him worthy of a hero’s burial,” said Bong Sanchez.
Affording the former dictator an interment at the Libingan would mean forgetting the “reign of terror” during martial law, Sanchez said.
“This is sad,” he said in Hiligaynon. “And President Rodrigo Duterte cannot empathize with the victims because his family was unharmed during martial law. His father was in Marcos’ Cabinet.”
Sanchez thinks the Supreme Court decision makes it fruitless to oppose the burial.
“We’re revising history,” he said. “The high court justices believed there was no reason not to bury Marcos at the Libingan because he was a soldier. This is painful for those who fought the dictatorship.”
Not everyone is against affording Marcos a hero’s burial. Bert Camayudo, a 42-year-old employee of Jaro district, urged everyone to “rest their case.”
“The Supreme Court recognizes the prerogative of the President,” he said. “The court maintains the separation of powers and upholds its integrity. Let us move on and confront the new challenges. Let us heal the wounds that divided us.”
A 26-year-old Ilongga overseas worker in South Korea could not decide whether to support or oppose the decision. She claims she has little knowledge about martial law.
Naize Cañata of Tigbauan, Iloilo thinks Marcos may have done good things that make him deserving of a spot at the Libingan and that the Supreme Court thoroughly studied the matter before deciding.
The 18-year-old college student JF Rance of Calinog, Iloilo said Marcos is “no hero” and “a disgrace to human rights,” while Wellarmed Dolendres of Bacolod City respects the decision.
“It may not sit well with many, but the Supreme Court’s decision must be respected,” said Dolendres. “To challenge the ruling is an uphill battle.”/PN
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