SWS: Pinoys divided on Marcos burial issue

Filipinos are almost equally divided on the issue of burying the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS). The SWS said its first quarter 2011 SWS survey conducted between March 4 to 7 this year found a "virtually exact split opinion" between supporters and opponents of the idea. "To the survey question, 'In your opinion, is the body of ex-President Marcos worthy to be buried in the Heroes Cemetery or not?,' 50 percent answered Worthy to be buried in the Heroes Cemetery, 49 percent answered Not worthy to be buried in the Heroes Cemetery, and 1 percent had no answer," the SWS said. The SWS said those who said Marcos is worthy to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani were further asked, "Do you think he deserves a burial with official honors or a private burial only?" Of these respondents, 30 percent said he should be "buried with official honors" and 20 percent said it should be a "private burial only." Marcos (September 11, 1917–September 28, 1989) died 21 years ago but has not been buried yet. After his 20-year reign as president ended in February 1986, Marcos died while in exile in Hawaii in 1989. His remains were brought home to the Philippines in 1993 and are being preserved in an airconditioned mausoleum in his hometown — Batac, Ilocos Norte. Marcos, who was ousted in the EDSA-1 People Power revolt in 1986, died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. While his body was brought back to the Philippines, it was denied burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and remains in a refrigerated crypt in his home province of Ilocos Norte. Opposition in Visayas and Mindanao About 58 percent in Metro Manila and 54 percent in Balance Luzon support a Marcos burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, but 59 percent in Mindanao and 54 percent in the Visayas oppose it. Opinions are split across classes, where 53 percent support and 46 percent oppose the idea in class ABC; 50 percent support and 49 percent oppose in class D or masa; and 51 percent support and 49 percent oppose in class E. Those who favor a Libingan burial with official honors for Marcos include 34 percent in Balance Luzon, 32 percent in Metro Manila, 26 percent in the Visayas, and 24 percent in Mindanao. Those who prefer having only a private Libingan burial for the former President include 26 percent in Metro Manila, 20 percent in Balance Luzon, 20 percent in the Visayas, and 16 percent in Mindanao. By class, preference for a Libingan burial with official honors is 31 percent in class D, 29 percent in class ABC, and 29 percent in class E. On the other hand, preference for a private Libingan burial is 24 percent in class ABC, 22 percent in class E, and 19 percent in class D. The March 2011 Social Weather Survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent for area percentages applied to the survey. – VVP, GMA News