The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday consolidated the three petitions challenging the planned burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The second and third set of petitioners were told to serve a copy of their petitions to the government respondents and the Marcos family by 4 p.m. today.
The high court kept the original deadline of Monday, 10 a.m., for the government to respond to the three petitions. Likewise, the preliminary conference to narrow down what issues should be tackled for the Wednesday oral arguments will still be held on Monday afternoon.
The high court’s original directive for the government on Tuesday only ordered it to respond to the petition filed on Monday by former representatives Saturnino C. Ocampo, Neri J. Colmenares, and members of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (Carmma) and Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda).
That was followed by the second petition by the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND), joined by minority bloc congressmen Edcel C. Lagman, Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr., Tomasito S. Villarin, Edgar R. Erice, and Emmanuel A. Billones.
Just this morning, former human rights commissioner Loretta Ann P. Rosales led fellow victims of martial law abuses belonging to the Coalition Against Marcos Burial in filing the third legal challenge.
READ: Martial law victims file third petition vs hero’s burial for Marcos
Government respondents include Executive Secretary Salvador S. Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Ernesto Enriquez, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina (retired).
The heirs of Marcos were represented by former first lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda R. Marcos./rga