MANILA - The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried hurriedly at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) on Friday, as the family embarked on a political revival while thousands who suffered under his two-decade-long rule still cry for justice.
The Supreme Court (SC) on November 8 rejected a petition by human rights victims to stop the transfer of Marcos' remains to the same resting place of former presidents, national artists, and heroes of war.
President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses, allowed the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which was the late strongman's last wish, according to his family.
Marcos' remains were transferred by helicopter from Ilocos Norte province, where it had been kept since it was brought back to the country in 1993. He died while on exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after he was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt.
“We should not be surprised because that’s how Marcos lived, in defiance of the law, illegally and that’s how he will be buried, again in defiance of the law and with his body being snuck in the Libingan ng mga Bayani surrounded by military and police guards,” said human rights lawyer Barry Gutierrez.
Although there is a 15-day period following the issuance of the SC decision for a motion for reconsideration to be filed, this does not prevent the Marcos family from pursuing the burial at heroes' cemetery.
"Even if there is a 15 day period, there was no order restraining the act," SC spokesman Theodore Te added.
The country marked the 30th anniversary of Marcos' ouster this year, with 75,000 victims still awaiting reparation.
The Marcoses allegedly plundered $10 billion from state coffers during their reign and only $4 billion in cash and assets have been recovered by an anti-graft body formed by his successor, the late president Corazon Aquino.
The late dictator's only son and namesake, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., narrowly lost the vice-presidential race this year to Leni Robredo, an ally of the family's political nemesis and Duterte's immediate predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
His widow, former first lady Imelda Marcos is a congresswoman in Ilocos Norte while his eldest daughter, Imee, is the provincial governor.
The Supreme Court (SC) on November 8 rejected a petition by human rights victims to stop the transfer of Marcos' remains to the same resting place of former presidents, national artists, and heroes of war.
President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses, allowed the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which was the late strongman's last wish, according to his family.
Marcos' remains were transferred by helicopter from Ilocos Norte province, where it had been kept since it was brought back to the country in 1993. He died while on exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after he was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt.
“We should not be surprised because that’s how Marcos lived, in defiance of the law, illegally and that’s how he will be buried, again in defiance of the law and with his body being snuck in the Libingan ng mga Bayani surrounded by military and police guards,” said human rights lawyer Barry Gutierrez.
Although there is a 15-day period following the issuance of the SC decision for a motion for reconsideration to be filed, this does not prevent the Marcos family from pursuing the burial at heroes' cemetery.
"Even if there is a 15 day period, there was no order restraining the act," SC spokesman Theodore Te added.
The country marked the 30th anniversary of Marcos' ouster this year, with 75,000 victims still awaiting reparation.
The Marcoses allegedly plundered $10 billion from state coffers during their reign and only $4 billion in cash and assets have been recovered by an anti-graft body formed by his successor, the late president Corazon Aquino.
The late dictator's only son and namesake, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., narrowly lost the vice-presidential race this year to Leni Robredo, an ally of the family's political nemesis and Duterte's immediate predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
His widow, former first lady Imelda Marcos is a congresswoman in Ilocos Norte while his eldest daughter, Imee, is the provincial governor.
Source: news.abs-cbn
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