Robredo: Burying Marcos at Libingan may affect Duterte’s reputation

President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to allow the burial of the late Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani has an effect on his political capital, Vice President Leni Robredo said Tuesday.

At a press conference, Robredo—who staunchly opposes the move—was asked if the gesture will affect Duterte's credibility and his political capital  given that some of his allies, including Social Welfare Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, are against the move.

The Vice President replied: "Ako, kahit papaano may epekto 'yon. Kahit papaano may epekto siya kasi maraming kakampi rin na against doon."

She added, however, that people "can only second guess" whether the President will consider the opposition and change his mind about the burial.

Either way, the move has caused a stir, and will have an effect particularly if Duterte stands by his decision, Robredo said.

"Kahit ano naman 'yung desisyon, lalo 'yung kung 'di magpalit ng isip, malaki ang epekto. Malaki ang epekto in the sense na lalong lalo na 'yung mga nakilaban noong nakaraang diktadurya talagang mabigat. Mabigat siyang dalhin dahil parang napupunta sa wala 'yung ating pinaglaban," she said.

Robredo said the matter was not discussed in the Cabinet meetings she has attended, and she is not privy to the feelings of the Cabinet meetings on the matter.

She also has not talked to Duterte about this.

The Vice President said she would present her argument to the President if given the chance.

"Ako, ilatag lang ['yung dahilan ng pagtutol]. He knows naman kasi I've been vocal about it. Pero ako naman, alam ko 'yung limitations ko. Wala naman akong... parang wala akong persuasive power over him," she said.

She added: "'Pag may pagkakataon, kakausapin ko si Pangulo. Ngayon lang kasi walang pagkakataon."

The burial, reportedly set next month, is being arranged after Duterte gave his go-signal, saying it would be done because Maros was a former president and a soldier.

'Marcos no hero'

Robredo recently reiterated her opposition to the move. In a statement, she said: "Mr. Marcos is no hero."

"How can we allow a hero's burial for a man who has plundered our country and was responsible for the death and disappearance of many Filipinos?" she said.

She added: "Those who have greatly committed crimes and moral turpitude to the Filipino people cannot be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani."

She also scored the older Marcos' heirs, who she said "continue to deny that these sins against our people happened."

"They continue to have no remorse and still prevent the return of the wealth that they stole," she said.

Robredo's closest rival in the vice presidential race is the late president's son, former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who she beat by only 263,473 votes.

During the campaign, she questioned Bongbong's pronouncements that he could not apologize for his father nor return the ill-gotten wealth amassed by his family.

Bongbong has filed an electoral protest against Robredo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. — RSJ, GMA News