Aquino to honor Ramos agreement with Marcoses on burial issue

MANILA, Philippines—The issue of where and how to bury the dictator Ferdinand Marcos has long been settled by the government since the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos, according to President Benigno Aquino III.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the wake for Ramos’ daughter, Josephine, at the Manila Memorial Chapel in Sucat, Parañaque Monday night, the President said he would honor the Ramos administration’s agreement with the Marcoses to have the strongman buried in Batac, his hometown in Ilocos Norte.

He said it was Ramos as president who allowed the return of Marcos’ remains from Hawaii.

There were no military honors when Marcos remains arrived in Laoag on Sept. 7, 1993 but 21 retired generals were present. Ramos was represented by his sister, former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Then Vice-President Joseph Estrada was also there.

“They had an agreement,” Aquino said. “I don’t remember the exact date; the last step was for the burial in Ilocos Norte.”

The President said he would not oppose the grant of military honors.

“That was the commitment of President Ramos between the state and the (Marcos) family,” he said. “So the decision, in effect, was already done before I even got into office.”

He said he was hoping for the Marcos family to honor the last part of that agreement, which is the burial.

“Well, they already know our position and the public already knows. And we’re actually waiting, from the time that President Ramos gave them that agreement and expecting that they live up to that particular agreement,” Mr. Aquino said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said it would extend full military honors at Marcos’ burial as he was a soldier during World War II.

Vice President Jejomar Binay has said that Marcos deserved such honor. “Military honors for one who had rendered military service, not as President. He was a former soldier after all. He was Major Ferdinand Marcos,” Binay noted.

He assured the public that the Marcos family was supportive of his recommendation though they did not completely adhere to the agreement with the Ramos government for the remains to be buried in Ilocos Norte following their arrival from Hawaii.