Marcos forfeited his rights to be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani —Lagman

Former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. forfeited his rights to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani as a soldier because of his acts as a dictator, a representative of the victims of human rights violations during Martial Law told Supreme Court justices on Wednesday.

At the first day of the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the consolidated petitions against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is representing the petitioners, said Marcos is “not worthy of inspiration or emulation” that would warrant his burial in the sacred cemetery.

Lagman said that while Marcos served as a soldier and a war veteran during World War II, his acts as a civilian when he was already the president of the Philippines negates his privilege to be honored as a soldier.

“The fact is not all soldiers are entitled to be buried in the Libingan, the law imposes inherent standards...The excesses, atrocities and plunder committed during Martial Law under Marcos, this cardinal sin of the late president, nullifies his status as a soldier and a president,” Lagman said.

“His acts as civilian nullified his status as a soldier. So he is not entitled to be buried as a soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani not only because he is a former president but also a former soldier.

Asked by SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa on what laws will be violated if Marcos was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Lagman cited Republic Act 289 or the law that establishes the Libingan ng mga Bayani or the “National Pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes, and Patriots of the Country.”

“The very precursor RA 289 is being violated because under that law, one that is an inspiration or worthy of emulation should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani…In the case of former President [Marcos], he is neither an inspiration or is worthy of emulation,” Lagman said.

Lagman also cited RA 10368 or the “Act providing for reparation and recognition of victims of human rights violation during the Marcos Regime”.

“The burial [of Marcos at the Libingan] will run against RA 10368 which recognizes the victims of human rights violations during Martial Law as martyrs while the late president was the violator or oppressor,” Lagman said.

Lagman said even that the 1987 Constitution would be violated by the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Not only the statutes, not only the circulars, but the fundamental law itself, the Constitution, will be violated if Marcos will be buried at the Libingan…Because according to the Constitution, a national shrine, a hero’s cemetery like the Libingan, it is to honor Filipinos who are worthy of inspiration and emulation. The late dictator does not fall under this declaration or standard,” Lagman said. —ALG, GMA News