President Aquino: Issue of Marcos burial long settled by Fidel Ramos

The issue of where and how to bury the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos had long been settled by the government, since the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, according to President Aquino.

In an interview with the Inquirer at the wake for Ramos’ daughter, Josephine Martinez Ramos, Monday night, Mr. Aquino indicated that he would honor the Ramos administration’s agreement with the Marcoses to bury the late strongman in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Mr. Aquino said it was Ramos as president who allowed the return of Marcos’ remains from Hawaii to the Philippines.

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

“They had an agreement,” Mr. 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 military honors for Marcos.

“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 the Marcos family would complete the last part of that agreement.

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

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said it would give full military honors to Marcos because he fought as a soldier for the country in World War II.

Vice President Jejomar Binay has said that Marcos deserved the honors. Binay was assigned by Mr. Aquino to study the matter of allowing a Libingan ng mga Bayani burial for Marcos.

Binay recommended, after extensive consultations, that Marcos be finally laid to rest in his hometown but be given military honors.