Bayan: Military honors for Marcos may lead to burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani

A reported compromise agreement allowing full military honors for the late former President Ferdinand Marcos despite his burial in Ilocos Norte may eventually pave the way for his burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, militants said late Saturday. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also said the reported compromise, supposedly recommended by Vice President Jejomar Binay, will be one step further in "rehabilitating" the late dictator's name. "While it is fine that he will not be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, full military honors for Marcos lays the groundwork for his eventual transfer to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in the future. The Marcoses are pleased with the recommendations because it is one step further in rehabilitating the name of late dictator," it said in a statement posted on its website Saturday night. Malacañang has so far kept mum on the reported compromise, saying President Benigno Aquino III is studying Binay's recommendations. The Palace on Saturday hinted that Aquino might make his decision known either Sunday or Monday. The late former president ruled the country with Martial Law from 1972 to 1981. He was ousted in 1986 by a peaceful revolt that catapulted Aquino's late mother Corazon to the presidency. On the other hand, Bayan said giving full military honors for a "known human rights violator" may also send "the wrong message to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the people." It added talks about “reconciliation," “political unity" and “closure" among the political factions of the ruling elite seem to gloss over the fact that thousands of human rights victims of Marcos have yet to achieve justice more than two decades after the dictator was ousted. "Any 'reconciliation' at this point only benefits the different political factions at the expense of the victims' fight for justice," it said. — LBG, GMA News