Palace: Marcos burial will not 'dilute' law recognizing Martial Law abuses 

A Malacañang official on Thursday said the burial of late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not dilute and distort the core of the law recognizing martial law victims.

"Well, as far as the burial is concerned, from PRRD's  [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte]  perspective and his basis is the fact that FM [Ferdinand Marcos] was a past president and that is what is being given consideration for, it does not have any reference, he is not making any reference to the dilution of any law," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing in Malacañan Palace. 

Abella was referring to Republic Act 10368 or the act providing for reparation and recognition of victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime, which was enacted into law in 2013.  He also stressed that Marcos' burial is not meant to whitewash the events that happened during the Martial Law.

"First and foremost, those are two different levels you’re talking of historical perspectives. You’re talking of something being done based on presidential decision, based on law. So they're not necessarily contradictory as far as PRRD is concerned," Abella said.

But is Malacanang open to change the name of the Libingan? "[Add] At iba pa?" asked Abella with a faint smile.

Abella mentioned this after former Senate President Nene Pimentel was quoted in a report as saying the cemetery should be renamed "Libingan ng Mga Bayani at Iba Pa."

Abella said, "Let's put it this way we're going through certain times, interesting times as they would say so we just have to take it step by step." 

During Tuesday's briefing, Abella did not directly respond whether or not Marcos will be interred as a hero.

"He will be buried," he just replied.

In his latest briefing, he announced that Marcos will be given a burial fit for a president.

Duterte in an impromptu press conference in Davao City over the weekend said  Marcos deserves to be interred in the Libingan "because he was a president, period." — VVP, GMA News