Senator Manny Pacquiao returns to work at the Senate on Nov. 8, 2016 after winning the WBO welterweight title in the US. (PHOTO BY TARRA QUISMUNDO/ INQUIRER)
Respect the Supreme Court’s decision, forgive the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and move on.
This was Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s appeal to everyone on Tuesday following the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the former President’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
READ: SC OKs Marcos burial at Libingan
“Intindihin natin yung Constitution. Kung Constitution ang pagbabasehan natin, once na ikaw ay naging presidente at elected ka, you have the right. Kung baga qualify ka na ilibing sa Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Pacquialo told reporters upon his return for work at the Senate fresh from his victory against Mexican-American Jessie Vargas.
“At saka para sa akin, if we are claiming God, if we’re claiming that we believe God, we should forgive others,” he said.
READ: Pacquiao says gay acts ‘detestable,’ ‘insult’ to God
Asked if he had any message to those opposing the Marcos burial at the heroes’ cemetery, Pacquiao said: “Kung kayo naniwala sa Panginoon, ang Panginoon nagpapatawad, tayo pa kaya hindi tayo makapagpatawad di ba? Especially para lang sa paglibing.”
In the first place, he said, burying Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery was not against the law, pointing out that he was elected president.
“Intindihin na lang natin. Para sa akin yung sugat siguro naghilom naman siguro yun, move on tayo,” said the senator.
“Ipasa-Diyos na lang natin kasi siya lang ang pwedeng maghusga, siya lang ang pwedeng magtanim ng galit sa atin, hindi tayong tao ang pwedeng magtanim ng galit sa kapwa natin,” he added.
Asked about the “dictator” tag on the late strongman, Pacquiao pointed out that Marcos was elected President first before he became dictator.
“Alam ba natin na magiging diktador sya noong nahalal sya as president? Sabihin natin diktador sya, nahalal sya e, binoto ng tao,” he said.
“Anyway, i-respeto natin yung Supreme Court, kahit ano pang gawin natin, kahit ano pang opinion natin tapos na ang decision ng Supreme Court, e respetuhin na lang natin ang decision ng Supreme Court,” Pacquiao added./rga
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