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Trillanes: Marcos hero’s burial will be one of Duterte’s headaches


Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday said that burying the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would be one of the "first headaches" of the administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

"Kung pipilitin nila (Marcos family) 'yan, I believe that would be the first headaches ng Duterte administration," Trillanes told News To Go in an interview.

The senator said that being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is only one of the many ways for the Marcos family to define the legacy of the late dictator.

"Iyong legacy naman can be defined by history and the historians. They can pursue it in other ways. Yun sana ang magandang mangyari dito," he added.

The senator urged the Marcos family to drop its aspiration of having the late dictator buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and save the Duterte administration from one headache.

He noted that not all past Philippine presidents are buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"Yung pamilya Marcos sana they could spare itong Duterte administration from all the headache kung sila na mismo ang mag-inisyatibo na ipalibing na lang kung saan," he said.

Only three Philippine presidents are buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani including Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdaco Macapagal and Elpidio Quirino.

Quirino was initially buried at the Manila South Cemetery and was transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Feb. 29, 2016.

Divisive

Trillanes said that the hero's burial for Marcos only serves as a divisive and sensitive issue for the country, which could lessen the political capital of Duterte once he assumes office on June 30.

"I believe it is a divisive issue. Hindi nila kailangan ng ganyang issue na mababawasan yung kanilang political capital. It's a very sensitive issue. Marami ang talagang tinamaan na personal sa issue na yan kay Marcos. I would advise against it," he said.

Duterte had assured that he will fulfill his campaign promise to allow Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

After a meeting with Duterte in Davao City over the weekend, Sen. Ferdinand  "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that their family has yet to decide when they will bury his father at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Meanwhile, Trillanes noted that the former dictator's burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not grant closure to the nation, but would only reopen the wounds set by Martial Law declared by the late strongman.

"Yung pagpapalibing mismo ang magre-re-open ng mga wounds na yun. May mga tao kasing naging biktima, mga na-torture, may mga talagang naghirap noong panahon na yun. Hindi sila magmu-move on. Lalo silang maiinsulto at masasaktan," Trillanes said.

Fiscalizer

Trillanes, meanwhile, said he would continue to be a watchdog of irregularities and corruption in the government.

Trillanes, who lost in the May 9 vice-presidential race, has three more years in the Senate.

Asked on his silence after accusing Duterte of amassing ill-gotten wealth, Trillanes said he is giving the administration the benefit of the doubt on the reforms that he is pushing.

"The past few weeks I chose to remain quiet kasi lahat ng mga siansabi nilang mga pronouncements ay unofficial. Gusto natin pag nag-assume na sila June 30 everything becomes official," he said.

"Hopefully wala na yung pabagu-bagong isip, flip-flop dito, o kung anu-anong paliwanag. It would be set in stone at least as far as the administration is concerned. Yun yung hihimayin natin," Trillanes added. —ALG, GMA News

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