Marcos victims in Congress oppose military honors for late president

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s recommendation for an Ilocos Norte burial with full military honors for the late President Ferdinand Marcos is acceptable to some members of the House of Representatives but not to those who suffered during the martial law rule of the ousted dictator.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Javier Colmenares said it was “absurd” to give full burial honors to someone who was responsible for one of the darkest periods in Philippine history and compensation to his victims.

“Marcos is no hero and the blood of innocent civilians is on his hands. He should just be allowed rest in his hometown as it is,” he said.

Colmenares was tortured and imprisoned for subversion for four years during martial law merely for demanding the reestablishment of student councils and condemning human rights violations. He was later cleared and released from jail.

“I do not agree with the moves to grant full military honors to the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos even if he is not to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Colmenares said.

He noted that the Marcoses have been remorseless and have not even issued an apology to the victims of martial law.

He said there would never be reconciliation as long as the Marcoses maintain they did not commit human rights violations and established a dictatorship.

Colmenares said full military or state honors contradicted grant of compensation to victims of human rights abuses as provided for in the compensation bill that was deemed supported by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and President Benigno Aquino III.

“I’m glad Vice President Binay did not recommend Libingan ng mga Bayani for him. Any form of honor is unacceptable,” he added.

Other congressmen interviewed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer said the gesture was just proper and fitting for a former president, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a military officer who fought for the country during World War II.

Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing Jr. said Binay was right in recommending full honors because whatever people say, Marcos was still a Philippine president.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if suddenly the leadership allows Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. After all he was our president,” Bagatsing said.

Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said he found “nothing objectionable” to the recommendation since the military itself had accepted that Marcos did fight for the country during the Pacific war.

“And that is what he is being honored for,” Angara said. “Anybody who fought for the country should be honored militarily for that fact.”

San Juan Representative JV Ejercito agreed, saying it was about time to put closure to this issue. “It’s just proper to give him the honors since he was a war veteran and a former commander-in-chief,” Ejercito said.

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said it was a sensible resolution of the issue.

“I hope that will put closure to a sensitive and highly divisive issue. I hope all parties concerned will accept the proposal,” he said.