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Binay, Duterte favor Marcos burial at Libingan Ng Mga Bayani; Poe, Roxas against


Presidential candidates Jejomar Binay and Rodrigo Duterte are in favor of burying the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the heroes' cemetery, while their rivals Grace Poe and Mar Roxas are against the idea.

At the second leg of the Pilipinas Debates 2016 held in Cebu City on Sunday, the four presidential candidates in attendance were asked to raise their hands if they were in favor of burying Marcos Sr.'s remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani located within Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Binay and Duterte raised their hands.

Duterte attempted to explain his response but he was barred from doing so by debate moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdes.

“I mean, I will explain after this debate,” Duterte said.

Binay, was a human rights lawyer during martial law. He was among the human rights activists who fought Marcos' dictatorship and led the 1986 People Power Revolution that catapulted the late Corazon Aquino into preseidency.

Binay was appointed by Aquino, mother of incumbent President Benigno Aquino III as the officer-in-charge of Makati City from 1986 to 1987.

Duterte, meanwhile, had earlier said that Marcos Sr. is the best president the country ever had.

Marcos Sr. declared martial law in 1972 during which many dissenters were murdered, while others were tortured. His son, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is running for vice president in May 2016 elections.

Poe had earlier refused to give a categorical answer on whether or not she is in favor of burying Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, instead stating that the former president should be given a proper burial in accordance with the law.

Roxas meanwhile, had earlier expressed opposition in burying Marcos Sr. in a heroes' cemetery.

Another presidential candidate, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was not present during the debate due to medical reasons. She, however, had earlier stated that she will not oppose the proposal to bury Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if that was the consensus of the public.

Santiago is running with the younger Marcos for the upcoming elections. —Elizabeth Marcelo/JST, GMA News

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