Bongbong discusses Marcos burial, possible Cabinet post with Duterte

Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was in Davao City Friday night and discussed with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte his possible Cabinet post and burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in September.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, tikom sa naging pulong nila ni Sen. Marcos sa Davao City. pic.twitter.com/dqFqv3gCu7 | @cedric_castillo

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 10, 2016

GMA News' Cedric Castillo reported that among the matters discussed during the meeting, albeit informally, was the possible burial of Marcos' father in September 2016.

Duterte announced last May that he would make good on his campaign promise to bury the strongman at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.

The promise dismayed Martial Law victims, who asked Duterte to reconsider his position. The victims argued that burying the dictator at the Libingan would "whitewash all crimes he committed against the people and will send the wrong message to the world that in the Philippines, crime pays."

The victims added that the elder Marcos was a "phony wartime hero" as most of the 32 medals he accumulated during World War II were found to be fraudulent by the United States Army in early 1986.

Cabinet post

Meanwhile, though Duterte refused to comment on their meeting, Marcos revealed a few details, admitting that he and Duterte had also discussed, "a little bit," the senator taking a Cabinet post.

The senator, who can take a Cabinet post after the one-year ban on candidates lapses, said he was open to the possibility.

Senator Marcos ran for the vice-presidency as an independent candidate during the May elections, but lost to Liberal Party candidate and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo.

Last month, Duterte said that he will not promise to appoint Robredo to his Cabinet because of his relationship with Marcos.

Earlier in May, the camp of Duterte had said that Robredo was assured of a Cabinet post if she wins the vice-presidency.

At a press conference in Quezon City hours after his meeting with Duterte in Davao, Marcos clarified that he was not offered a post during the meeting.

"I am at heart a public servant and if I'm called to duty in any way whatsoever, it is an honor for me to serve in any capacity the incoming president would feel that I can contribute. I would be happy to do that," the senator said.

"'Yan naman talaga ang aking ginagawa, 'yan naman talaga ang buhay namin na ang Marcos ay magsilbi lamang," he added.

Marcos had said during the campaign that he wanted to get the labor and employment portfolio should he win the vice presidency.

The labor department will soon be headed by lawyer Silvestre Bello III, an outgoing party-list congressman and former justice secretary. —Virgil Lopez/DVM/ALG, GMA News