MANILA, Philippines – A neophyte senator on Monday, August 8, hit President Rodrigo Duterte for standing firm on his decision to give the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos a hero's burial while publicly condemning oligarchs for ruining the nation.
“For someone who publicly disapproves of oligarchs, President Duterte’s decision to give the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial is the height of contradiction,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
It does not make sense for Duterte to honor the late dictator, who created the crony system in the first place, Hontiveros said.
“President Duterte cannot end the run of oligarchs in the country by honoring the very man who created a crony oligarchy during Martial Law,” she added.
Duterte earlier singled out Filipino tycoon Roberto Ongpin as an example of the oligarchs his administration wants to do away with.
The President described Ongpin as a businessman close to people in power and implied he used his political influence to strengthen his businesses. Ongpin, Marcos' close friend, served as his trade secretary.
"Malakas kay Marcos, malakas siya and successful. [During the time of] Ramos, he was a hanger-on (The plan is to destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government. I'll give you an example, publicly – Ongpin, Roberto)," Duterte said in front of election volunteers in Malacañang Palace on August 3.
Marcos unfit for hero’s burial
Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 86 expressing the chamber’s opposition to a hero’s burial for the late dictator.
“Former president Marcos should not be allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, given findings of crimes involving moral turpitude as well as the human rights violations that occurred during his administration,” said the resolution.
She said allowing the former president to be buried at the cemetery will only further divide the nation and not heal it, as Duterte had argued.
“Allowing the former president to be buried at the Libingan will only cause further divisiveness and reopen old wounds, especially as the country is also in the process of providing reparations to Martial Law victims,” the resolution said.
Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 allocates some P10 billion – sourced mainly from the Marcoses' deposits in Swiss banks – to about 10,000 human rights victims during the martial law.
Other senators – even Duterte’s staunchest allies in the chamber – have strongly opposed Duterte’s decision to allow Marcos to be buried at the hero’s cemetery. – Rappler.com
“For someone who publicly disapproves of oligarchs, President Duterte’s decision to give the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial is the height of contradiction,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
It does not make sense for Duterte to honor the late dictator, who created the crony system in the first place, Hontiveros said.
“President Duterte cannot end the run of oligarchs in the country by honoring the very man who created a crony oligarchy during Martial Law,” she added.
Duterte earlier singled out Filipino tycoon Roberto Ongpin as an example of the oligarchs his administration wants to do away with.
The President described Ongpin as a businessman close to people in power and implied he used his political influence to strengthen his businesses. Ongpin, Marcos' close friend, served as his trade secretary.
"Malakas kay Marcos, malakas siya and successful. [During the time of] Ramos, he was a hanger-on (The plan is to destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government. I'll give you an example, publicly – Ongpin, Roberto)," Duterte said in front of election volunteers in Malacañang Palace on August 3.
Marcos unfit for hero’s burial
Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 86 expressing the chamber’s opposition to a hero’s burial for the late dictator.
“Former president Marcos should not be allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, given findings of crimes involving moral turpitude as well as the human rights violations that occurred during his administration,” said the resolution.
She said allowing the former president to be buried at the cemetery will only further divide the nation and not heal it, as Duterte had argued.
“Allowing the former president to be buried at the Libingan will only cause further divisiveness and reopen old wounds, especially as the country is also in the process of providing reparations to Martial Law victims,” the resolution said.
Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 allocates some P10 billion – sourced mainly from the Marcoses' deposits in Swiss banks – to about 10,000 human rights victims during the martial law.
Other senators – even Duterte’s staunchest allies in the chamber – have strongly opposed Duterte’s decision to allow Marcos to be buried at the hero’s cemetery. – Rappler.com
Source: rappler
Share this story!
Visit and follow our website: Duterte News Global
© Duterte News Global
Post a Comment