Supreme Court of the Philippines. FILE PHOTO
The Supreme Court’s deliberation on the motion that sought the exhumation of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) and a petition to cite the late dictator’s heirs and the military in contempt will continue next week.
High Court’s Public Information Chief Atty. Theodore Te said the urgent motion for exhumation filed by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and the petition filed by Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo to cite the Marcos heirs and the military in contempt of court were deliberated on Tuesday.
READ: SC asked to cite Marcoses, AFP in contempt for ‘shady’ burial
However, he said the high court has decided to continue with its deliberation next Tuesday en banc.
“The Court took it up but decided to take it up again next week,” Te said in a press conference.
An insider also said that Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, the author of the November 8 decision dismissing consolidated petitions against the interment of Marcos’ remains at the LNMB went on wellness leave.
Both Lagman and Ocampo’s petitions said that the Marcos burial at the LNMB even if the Supreme Court decision was not yet final is a sign of disrespect not only to the petitioners but to the high court as well.
READ: SC urged to order exhumation of Marcos remains at Libingan
In dismissing the consolidated petitions with a vote of 9-5, the high court said President Rodrigo Duterte did not abuse his discretion in allowing the interment of Marcos at the LNMB.
It noted that pursuant to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulation, Marcos is qualified being a former
president, commander-in-chief, retired soldier, war veteran, former defense secretary, legislator and recipient of the Medal of Valor, the highest honors bestowed by the Philippine military. RAM/rga