Bongbong hopes for ‘positive’ ruling on burial issue

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed hope that the Supreme Court (SC) would hand down a positive ruling on a hero’s burial for his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

SC has extended for the second time the status quo ante (SQA) order temporarily stopping the interment of the late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB). The SQA has been extended up to Nov. 8, resumption of the high court’s en banc. Tuesday, Oct. 18, is the high court’s last en banc and will go on a short recess.

READ: SC extends suspension order delaying Marcos Libingan burial

Marcos said they have waited for 23 years, and they are willing to wait for a few more days until the Supreme Court decides on whether to allow the interment of his father at LNMB.

“Nakapag antay na kami ng 23 years siguro naman ilang araw na lang ay kaya pa rin naming mag-antay. Kaya pabayaan natin ang ating mga justices na pag-isipan, pag-aralan ang mga issue tungkol dito at ako ay nakakatiyak na ang punot dulo nito ay sila ay sasang-ayon na dapat ilibing na ang aking ama sa Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Marcos told reporters. He joined the Marcos supporters outside the Supreme Court.

(We have waited for 23 years so perhaps we could wait for a few more days. So let us give the justices the time to think and study the issue and I’m certain that in the end, they will agree that my father should be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.)

There are two opinions on the Marcos case—that of Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

Asked for his expectation, Marcos said that the more time the justices have, the more will it be proven that his father deserves a hero’s burial.

“Habang tumatagal ang pag-aaral ng ating mga justices tungkol dito, mas magiging maliwanag sa kanila na sa batas ay maliwanag na may karapatan ang aking ama na ilibing sa Libingan ng mga Bayani (As justices are given more time to study the issue, it would clear to them that according to the law, my father has the right to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani),” Marcos said.

The young Marcos denied that Duterte’s decision allowing the burial of his father at the LNMB is a payback for their support in the last election.

“I do not think the President makes his judgments that way. I think he makes his judgments as I think you already know, based on law. He’s very much a lawyer and he very much bases his decisions and positions on law,” Marcos added. RAM/rga

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