SC extends halt order on Marcos burial
Martial Law victims, from left, Rodolfo Dela Cruz, Danilo Dela Fuente, Fr. Dionilo Cabillas, former Congressman and human rights lawyer Nery Colmenares, Felix Dalisay and Bonifacio Ilagan, clench their fists shortly after filing a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, in Manila, Philippines. Protests are mounting following the order by President Rodrigo Duterte to bury Marcos at the cemetery with full military honors. AP FILE PHOTO
THE planned burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not take place on September 18.
This, after the Supreme Court extended the 20-day status quo order to October 18.
The high court has concluded its oral argument on whether Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani or not.
During the second round of the oral argument, Calida told the high court that President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to allow Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayan was beyond judicial review.
“Well settled is the rule that a mere existence of a controversy will not authorize the courts of its power of review,” Calida said.
“Instant controversy is beyond judicial review as it involves the intrusion into the wisdom behind the interment of Marcos at the Libingan,” he added.
Petitioners who are members of cause oriented groups and human rights victims during the martial law days maintained that Marcos does not deserve to be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because he was not worthy of emulation and inspiration.
But Calida maintained that there would be no state honors for Marcos but only a simple military ceremony.
He added that Marcos was not dishonorably discharged and there are no allegations that he violated the Articles of War.
Even petitioners acknowledged that while there are allegations of human rights violation, economic plunder, graft and corruption, Marcos was never charged, nor convicted in court because he left the country and died.
“Its not his fault that he died,” a Supreme Court justice said.
The government assured that the Marcos burial will not affect the claims of victims of military brutality during the martial law regime.
Calida added that Marcos burial has no effect of pardoning the late President of his supposed crimes.
Both parties, the petitioners, the government, through Solicitor General Jose Calida and the Marcos heirs were given 20 days to submit their memoranda containing their arguments and the requirements, instructions given to them by the justices.
