The planned burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not take place in the next 20 days.
This, as an ABS-CBN News source has revealed that the Supreme Court (SC), during its en banc session on Tuesday, handed down a 20-day status quo ante order (SQAO) in favor of five petitions assailing a memorandum issued by the defense department directing the planning for said burial.
The memorandum, dated August 7, 2016, was signed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and addressed to Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya informing him of the verbal orders of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 11 regarding Marcos’ burial at the Libingan for purposes of planning and coordination for Marcos’ burial.
The high court also ordered the resetting of the oral arguments from August 24 to August 30.
Separate petitions were filed by former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, et al.; Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, et al.; former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales, et al., former Senator Heherson Alvarez, et al.; and Zaira Baniaga, et al.
Petitioners argued that Marcos’ burial at the Libingan violates Republic Act (RA) No. 289, “An Act Providing for the Construction of a National Pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of the Country,” tantamount to condonation of “abuses committed by the Marcos regime” and human rights violations during Martial Law; and a violation of the written agreement between the Philippine government, through former President Fidel Ramos, and the Marcos family on the interment of Marcos’ remains in Ilocos Norte; among others.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), meantime, arguing on behalf of respondents, pointed out that President Duterte’s order for Marcos’ burial at the Libingan is in keeping with laws, stressing the following:
– Marcos was, in life, a President, Commander-in-Chief, retired military veteran and Medal of Valor awardee, and thus, may be interred at the Libingan pursuant to [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Regulations G 161-375;
– Marcos, prior to his death, possessed none of the disqualifications from being interred at the Libingan, as stated in AFP Regulations G 161-375;
– the recognition and reparation of human rights violations victims under Republic Act No. 10368 (An Act Providing for Preparation and Recognition of Victims of Human Rights Violations During the Marcos Regime) would not be impaired by the interment of former President Marcos at the Libingan;
– the interment of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan is not contrary to public policy;
– the interment of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan does not contravene the principles and policies enshrined in the 1987 Constitution;
– the interment of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan does not violate the Philippines’ obligations under International Law and norms; and
– the President is not bound by the alleged 1993 Agreement between former President Fidel V. Ramos and the Marcos family to have the remains of former President Marcos interred at Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The OSG, in its comment filed on Monday, stressed that the move “does not confer upon [Marcos] the status of a ‘hero'” and is “not tantamount to a consecration of his mortal remains or his image.”
“No amount of heartfelt eulogy, gun salutes, holy anointment, and elaborate procession and rituals can transmogrify the dark pages of history during Martial Law… The world has read and heard all of these,” the OSG said. Ina Reformina/ABS-CBN News
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