Stay Marcos burial, SC asked

One of the petitioners moving to block the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani filed a pleading with the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stay the late dictator’s burial at the heroes’ cemetery pending the finality of the tribunal’s Nov. 8 decision.

Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman and his copetitioners, through their lawyers, asked the high tribunal to consider reissuing a status ante order or temporarily blocking the Marcos burial while the motion of reconsideration they intended to file would have been resolved.

The anti-Marcos petitioners have not yet received copies of the Supreme Court’s majority decision.

On Tuesday, the high tribunal voted 9-5 with one abstention to dismiss the petition filed by anti-Marcos groups and personalities to block the President’s order allowing Marcos to be buried at the memorial grounds for heroes.

Lagman and his fellow petitioners informed the Supreme Court that “they will definitely file a motion for reconsideration, either separate from or consolidated with motions for reconsideration of the other petitioners.”

The petitioners noted the decision was not yet final, thus, their request would prevent their planned motion for reconsideration from being rendered moot by Marcos’ burial at Libingan.

“The principle of courtesy and respect to be accorded by the parties to the court pending the finality of its decision is also relevant and compelling,” Lagman said.