Just a soldier's burial? Video shows Marcos tomb has presidential seal

The family of the late Ferdinand Marcos has maintained that they only want a soldier's burial for him, carried out in a surprise ceremony on Friday noon.

Marcos' tomb, however, dons the presidential seal, as seen in a live video posted on the Facebook page of his eldest child, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

The black tomb also has the signature of the late dictator, sprawled in silver.

His epitaph nearby reads:

"Ferdinand E. Marcos
1917-1989
Filipino"

A press statement released by the Marcos Presidential Center said the late strongman was accorded a "private soldier's burial ceremony."

The Marcoses also chose a palochina or pine wooden coffin for the former president as symbol of a "simple" funeral.

"Ako at ang aking pamilya ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat na nagpatotoo sa karapatan ng aking ama na mapanatag sa [LNMB]," said Gov. Marcos on behalf of the family.

"Kasama namin kayong nangarap at nanalangin sa halos tatlong dekada na makita ang araw na ito. Kaya naman ako po'y humihingi ng dispensa at pang-unawa sa naging pasya ng aking pamilya na gawing payak, pribado at taimtim ang paglibing sa aking ama upang hindi na masaling ang mga nagdaramdam," she added.

Marcos is the fourth Philippine president to be buried at the Heroes Cemetery, after Carlos P. Garcia, Elpidio Quirino, and Diosdado Macapagal.

In a press conference after the noon burial, Armed Forces spokesman B/Gen. Restituto Padilla said "a big portion" of the tomb "was already constructed" even before the Supreme Court released a stay order on the burial, after several groups filed petitions against it. --Aica Dioquino and Virgil Lopez/JST, GMA News