Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos “does not deserve to be buried” at the heroes’ cemetery, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Saturday, arguing that it could still be transferred to another site.
Pimentel is strongly against Marcos’ burial. His father, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., was among opposition leaders detained during the strongman’s repressive martial rule.
“Of course, this being a political issue, let us not lose hope, because this can be reversed anytime,” said Pimentel, chief ally of President Duterte at the Senate.
It was President Duterte, whose father, Vicente, served in the Marcos Cabinet, who allowed the late dictator’s interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Pimentel, who heads the President’s party, said he was not keen to raise the issue again with Mr. Duterte as Marcos has already been buried.
However, he said Mr. Duterte could still have a “change of heart.” If not, the succeeding Commander in Chief could undo the burial.
“Then by 2022, when we have a new President and he believes that there are disqualified persons buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, then he can order their transfer, or their removal,” he told the Inquirer.
The Commission on Audit (COA) may also “disallow all expenses connected with the burial once it reviews the transactions” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which was tasked to make the funeral arrangements, he said.
Such a disallowance would compel the AFP to “justify, explain or return the sum spent.”
“If it was allowed, then what was done must be reversed,” Pimentel said.
Stolen wealth
Pimentel noted that the state has existing claims against the Marcoses, who are accused of stealing about $10 billion from state coffers, according to estimates.
“They owe the state a huge debt, and yet the state even gave them a favor,” he said, stressing that the COA had a strong argument to press its case against the Marcoses.
“This is not because of the legal (aspect). It is because a benefit is given to a person or his family against which the government has financial claim, which has not been returned and/or repaid,” he continued.
The issue of Marcos’ burial also prompted Pimentel to file a measure that would set aside land within the Libingan for the burial of “Filipinos of historical interest,” separate from plots reserved for the military.
This area would be called Libingan ng mga Makasaysayang Pilipino, where former Presidents of the Philippines, statesmen, dignitaries, and national artists and scientists may be buried.
This would “preserve the LNMB as a military memorial consistent with the purpose intended” when it was established in 1947, he said.
Pimentel advised Filipinos to exercise their constitutional rights while learning our recent history./rga
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