DIFFERENT groups in Davao City condemned the hasty and highly-secretive burial of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Friday, November 18, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City, for being done in bad faith.
Konsyensya Dabaw (Hugpong Dabawenyo para LNMBatac), a progressive group opposing Marcos' burial at the heroes' cemetery, said the burial is "in breach of the law" referring to the Supreme Court ruling last November 8 allowing the burial of the late dictator.
The group said the law does not make decisions final and executory until 15 days, or motions for reconsiderations (MRs) have been resolved.
It said the burial, which is done 10 days after the SC ruling "obviously meant to preempt and frustrate efforts to file MRs with the Supreme Court."
"We are alarmed that the burial happened in haste, and preparations were made in secret. If the Marcoses truly believed that they had secured a just ruling from the SC, why this dishonorable maneuver?," Mags Maglana, one of the conveners of Konsenya Dabaw, said.
This was also echoed by Bayan Muna Representative Karlos Zarate saying the "blitzkrieg" act "is a slap on the face of the victims of human rights violations during Martial Law".
Karapatan SMR-Spokesperson, Jay Apiag told SunStar in an interview at the sidelines of the group’s rally in front of the Davao City Hall said they will still continue to protest even when the dictator is already buried.
Davao-based businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian, in a text message sent to SunStar Davao, said though the legal issue was already settled by the SC, unfortunate historical events can't be forgotten and put to rest easily.
"The effects of the martial law era caused pain and suffering and even destroyed lives of many Filipinos who fought the dictatorship. These are memories that will continue to live on! How history will judge former President Marcos is yet to be seen. Meanwhile let us all move on without sacrificing our personal ideologies," Bian said.
With the highly-secretive burial, Maglana said they demand to see the document of the order directing the burial.
"The concerned offices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should observe proper procedures, and not act based on oral directives, precisely because the burial is still a contested matter," she said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said Friday there was no intention to hold the burial of late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani "sneaky."
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters in Peru that as far as he knew President Rodrigo Duterte was not consulted on the exact date of Marcos' burial.
"The decision to bury late President Ferdinand Marcos today is a personal decision of the Marcos family," he said.
Abella said the Palace respects the Marcos family's choice of date for the interment.
Asked if the government tried to make the burial a secret, Abella said, "It is part of the whole process and there is no intent as you say to be sneaky."
Observers said the Marcos family decided the interment of the late president's remains in secrecy. The public only learned about it Friday, the same day that burial rites were held.
Abella said the government just "extended the necessary assistance in matters related to protocol and honors" on Marcos' burial.
Now that Marcos was laid to rest, he said Duterte hopes the Filipinos will move forward.
"He hopes we might find a space in our hearts to be able to forgive and set free those who hurt or injured us. Also in the more elevated sense of logic he hopes the burial would set, you know bring about a cycle of healing for the Filipino people," Abella said.
Konsensya Dabaw expressed disappointment after knowing that the President has full knowledge of the burial plans according to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.
"This makes us ask, do the victims of martial law and those who oppose the hero's burial mean so little to the President that he would condone a hasty burial?," the group statement said.
"We note that the President is not in the country at this time. If he had really intended the Marcos burial to lead to healing and reconciliation, he would have seen to it that he is present to lead and unite his people during this critical time," it added.
Understanding
Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos, in a public statement made hours after the burial, expressed gratitude to her family's supporters underscoring that they can finally be at peace now after his father was laid to rest at the heroes' cemetery.
"Sa wakas, napatupad sa araw na ito ang huling habilin ng aking minamahal na ama, ang dating Pangulong Ferdinand Edralin Marcos,
na maihimlay kasama ng kanyang mga kapwa sundalo," Marcos said.
But, Marcos apologized and sought for understanding from the people especially their supporters following their decision to make the ceremony "private and simple."
"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," Marcos said. (with KVC/Sunnex)