CEBU CITY, Philippines – Time move on and unite the country.
This was how presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte explained his stand on favoring the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery).
During the “Taas Kamay” segment of the second presidential debate, the four presidential candidates were asked whether Marcos should be given a hero’s burial.
Duterte and Binay agreed.
In ambush interview after the debate at the University of the Philippine here, the tough-talking mayor said he wanted to unite and not divide the country if he wins the presidency.
He mentioned that the Ilocanos look up to Marcos as a hero and the issue on his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would be a “divisive factor to our society.”
“Someone has to give. Ilibing mo na lang yan para tapos na,” he said.
During his visit in Ilocos Norte, a known bailiwick of the Marcoses, Duterte said he would allow Marcos to be buried at the heroes’ cemetery.
In his previous speeches, he also said that Marcos would have been the best president had he not stayed in power for too long.