SC favors dictator Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani

Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, a fraternity brother of the President at the San Beda College of Law, inhibited from the deliberations due to reported close relations with a party in the case. 

Te said the Court found no grave abuse of discretion on the part of Duterte in pushing for the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani because this was done in the exercise of his mandate under Article VII, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution "to ensure the faithful execution of all laws."

There was also no law barring the transfer of Marcos' remains to the Libingan ng mga Bayani and that Duterte was not bound by the 1992 agreement entered into by the Marcos family and then President Fidel Ramos to have the remains interred in Marcos' hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

"As the incumbent, President Duterte is free to amend, revoke, or rescind political agreements entered into by his predecessors and to determine policies which he considers, based on informed judgment and presumed wisdom, will be most effective in carrying out his mandate," Te said.

Public funds can be used for burial

The SC also found that under the Administrative Code, the President has the power to reserve any public land for public use and for specific public purposes.

"According to the majority, the disbursement of public funds to cover the expenses incidental to the burial is granted to compensate him for valuable public services rendered," Te said.

"In this regard, the majority also considered that the President's determination to have Marcos' remains interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was inspired by his desire for national healing and reconciliation," he added.

The Court also shot down the petitioners' contention that the Libingan burial was motivated by Duterte's debt of gratitude to the Marcoses, who supported the former Davao City mayor in the May presidential election.

"As the purpose is not self-evident, petitioners have the burden of proof to establish the factual basis of their claim. They failed. Even so, this Court cannot take cognizance of factual issues since we are not a trier of facts," stated the decision penned by Justice Peralta.

Not pure evil

Marcos may have been accused with massive human rights violations and corruption, but the SC said "it cannot deny him the right to be acknowledged based on the other positions he held or the awards he received."

"We agree with the proposition that Marcos should be viewed and judged in his totality as a person. While he was not all good, he was not pure evil either. Certainly, just a human who erred like us," the decision read.

The SC disagreed that Marcos had been "dishonorably discharged" following his ouster in 1986, noting Marcos was recognized by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office as a war veteran under Republic Act 6948.

The Court added that Marcos was not convicted by final judgment of any offense involving moral turpitude.

The late strongman's son and namesake, former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was "deeply grateful," saying the SC has once again "taken a magnanimous act to uphold the rule of law."

The former senator also extended his gratitude to Duterte "as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months."

"It is our sincerest hope that this will lead the nation towards healing as we endeavor to move the country forward to give every Filipino a better life," the former lawmaker said in a statement.

Appeal

Petitioner and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, vowed to appeal the ruling.

"While I respect the decision of the Supreme Court, I am puzzled to no end why the majority of the High Court would allow the burial of a judicially and historically confirmed despot, plunderer and transgressor of human rights in the Libingan ng mga Bayani," Lagman said. 

"Motions for reconsideration are in order for a reversal of the majority decision," he added.

Duterte believed Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani since he was a soldier and former president.

The government also said there was no law prohibiting Marcos from being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, a cemetery reserved for soldiers, former presidents, national artists and statesmen, and that it is within Duterte's power and prerogative to allow it.

Duterte's decision did not sit well with Martial Law victims and rights groups, who argued that only those who can serve as an inspiration and as models for emulation can be buried at the military shrine, citing Republic Act 289 as basis.

But the government clarified that the late strongman would not gain the status of a "hero" as it acknowledged the "dark pages of history during Martial Law," during which thousands had been killed and jailed for opposing the dictatorship.

Marcos died while on exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after he was ousted from the presidency through the People Power revolt in February 1986.

His remains, brought home in September 1993, lie inside a glass coffin and on public display at the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. —NB/KBK/ALG, GMA News