Former first lady Imelda Marcos kisses the glass case that contains the frozen remains of former dictator and president Ferdinand Marcos on July 2, 2014. AFP FILE PHOTO
Why not bury the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in his own “Libingan ng mga Bayani” in Ilocos Norte?
This was the proposal of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe to find a win-win solution to a divisive issue of giving Marcos a hero’s burial, recently given the green light by the Supreme Court.
Batocabe urged the Marcoses to take the “high road” and back off from burying the former President at the military-run Libingan ng mga Bayani.
READ: Duterte stands firm on Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani
Batocabe said Marcos may be buried in his own “Libingan ng mga Bayani” in Batac, Ilocos Norte, where he would be accepted by fellow Ilocanos.
“This is a very contentious issue. I urge the Marcoses to reconsider burying [Marcos] at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They have proven their point,” Batocabe said on Monday during the “Ugnayan sa Batasan” press briefing in the House of Representatives.
“Ito ang appeal ko sa mga (This is my appeal to the) Marcoses—take a high, moral ground, huwag niyo na ilibing (don’t bury your patriarch) (sa Libingan ng mga Bayani). Heroes are not determined where they are buried or by legislation, or decision by the Supreme Court. They are determined by the collective will of the people. Pwedeng Libingan ng mga Bayani sa Ilocos Norte, gumawa sila dun (They can make their own Libingan ng mga Bayani in Ilocos Norte)… where he is acceptable to the whole people,” he added.
READ: CPP tells Duterte: Hero’s burial for Marcos an insult to martyrs
Batocabe said the Marcoses should take the moral high ground to unify the people because they had proven their point.
“The Marcoses have proven their point, the loyalists have proven their point. Sinabi na ng Korte Suprema (The Supreme Court has spoken)—they have already sent the message to the people,” Batocabe said.
READ: SC: ‘No grave abuse of discretion’ by Duterte on Marcos burial
In granting Marcos’ burial, the Supreme Court voting 9-5 said there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of President Rodrigo Duterte in ordering a hero’s burial for Marcos as a former President and soldier.
But magistrates who dissented said it would be illegal to give a hero’s burial to Marcos who had been adjudged by history and the court as a plunderer and a dictator. RAM/rga
READ: Sereno: Marcos burial would be antithesis of symbolic reparation | Leonen: Marcos is no hero; Libingan burial illegal
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