If Filipinos have moved on from the atrocities committed by Japan during World War II, why can’t they reconcile on the issue of hero’s burial for former President Ferdinand Marcos, Atty. Estelito Mendoza who served as Solicitor General during the Marcos regime said Thursday.

Mendoza said if the people remember the martial law years, the people should also remember what happened during World War II.

“The people today, especially the youth, should remember who fought for us against the Japanese,” Mendoza said.

“No one can deny that President Marcos was among the Filipino soldiers who marched in Bataan and were imprisoned during the Japanese occupation,” he added.

The Libingan ng mga Bayani, he said is principally built for the soldiers and Marcos, before he became President, was a soldier.

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Now, Japan is back as among the Philippines’ close economic partners.

“Japan is back here [in the Philippines] while we are very happy visiting Japan. If that is so, why can’t we, the Filipinos reconcile….’Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ If we will truly follow what we pray for, I am sure this country will be truly peaceful,” Mendoza said.

The Supreme Court recently conducted an oral argument on the issue of whether Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Martial law victims said the former dictator should not be allowed to be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because he should not be emulated.

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His scheduled burial is on Sept. 18 and preparations are already underway until the Supreme Court issued a status quo order.

The high court has yet to rule on the matter. It will hear the government’s argument on Sept. 7. RAM

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TAGS: Japan, World War II