SC extends stay order on Marcos burial

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended anew its order blocking the interment of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, spoiling the festive mood of Marcos loyalists who had camped out in front of the high tribunal’s compound in Manila.

Theodore Te, Supreme Court spokesperson, said the 15-member court opted to prolong the effectivity of the status quo ante order until Nov. 8 during its weekly en banc (full court) session.

He said the magistrates did not give any explanation for the second extension of the order, which it originally issued on Aug. 23 and extended on Sept. 7 after holding the second oral argument on the matter.

“(There’s) no reason cited by the court (for the extension),” Te told a brief news conference.

Curiously, it was Marcos’ son and namesake, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who offered an explanation.

According to the former lawmaker, Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Diosdado Peralta had released their separate draft opinions only on Monday.

Caguioa, a close friend of former President Benigno Aquino III, has been tasked by the court as ponente or author of the main resolution.

In addition, Marcos said Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno had just returned from a trip.

“That’s why (the justices) needed a longer period to study the petitions filed about the burial of my father,” he told reporters in Filipino.

“In my opinion, as the justices take more time in studying this, it would be clear to them that it’s very evident in the law that my father has the right to be laid to rest at (Libingan),” he said. —WITH A REPORT FROM MARICAR BRIZUEL AND GIL CABACUNGAN