AFP contradicts Palace on Marcos burial, says Duterte 'always kept aware'

Was President Rodrigo Duterte aware when the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani? Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) seem to have conflicting answers.

Facing reporters at Villamor Airbase after Marcos was laid to rest, AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla was asked if Duterte knew that the late President will be given a hero’s burial Friday.

In response, Padilla said: “The President is always kept aware of everything that’s happening in the country.”

Padilla’s statement was contrary to Malacañang’s claim that the President was not informed when Marcos’ remains would be transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"As far as I know, he was not sure of the exact date, as far as I know," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said at a press briefing.

He said "there was no direct conversation" between Duterte and the Marcos family as the President's focus in the past days was on Peru, where he would attend this year's APEC Summit.

"He (Duterte) was on his way. His attention was focused on the trip to Lima," Abella said.

Like Padilla, PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said Duterte knew when the hero’s burial for Marcos will take place.

Details of the burial were kept secret from the public until around 10 a.m. Padilla said no details about the interment was announced in keeping with the Marcoses’ wishes for privacy.

He said even the AFP had to prepare for the burial quickly since military officials were only informed about it at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The late strongman was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at noon, after the body was flown from Laoag, Ilocos Norte late morning.

Padilla said around a hundred people, including members of the Marcos family, attended the burial. —JST, GMA News