Tatad: Bury Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani to stop 'politics of vengeance'

Former Senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad on Thursday said the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos must be allowed to put an end to a "politics of vengeance."

Tatad, who served as Marcos' information minister, said the latter is qualified for burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City as former president and a soldier.

"We have to move on," he told GMA News Online in an interview at the sidelines of a forum in Quezon City.

Ex-Sen. Tatad on Marcos burial at Libingan: We have to stop politics of vengeance... We have to move on. pic.twitter.com/r4Gq4JoM0x

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) August 25, 2016

He credited the "politics of vengeance" to the late President Corazon Aquino and her son, former President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Corazon, widow of opposition leader Sen. Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., took over the presidency after a people power revolution ended Marcos' more than 20 years in office, known particularly for the imposition of Martial Law.

Noynoy, who was elected in 2010, had been categorical in opposing the burial during his term.

"'Yung politics of vengeance, 'yung Aquino versus Marcos, dapat kinalilimutan natin 'yan. Hindi nakakatulong 'yan sa bayan. Panahon ni Cory, hindi nakatulong. Panahon ni Noynoy, hindi nakatulong," he said.

Still, Tatad said they will leave the matter up to the Supreme Court, where petitions have been filed against the Marcos burial at LNMB.

"We leave that up to the wisdom of the court, especially at this point that they have asked for time to study," Tatad said.

"We're hoping that justice will prevail and the rule of law will be followed. 'Yun naman ang pinaglaban ni Marcos. 'Yung rule of law, 'yun ang dapat masunod."

Last week, the high court issued a 20-day status quo ante order, putting the military's preparations for the burial on a halt.

Oral arguments on the matter, initially scheduled on August 24, have been moved to August 31 at 10 a.m.

Petitioners against the burial, some of them Martial Law victims and former government officials, have urged the SC to shoot down the impending burial.

The petitioners cited Marcos' dubious record as a war soldier and massive human rights violations and corruption that tainted his 20-year rule.

The government opted to go strictly by the book, emphasizing that the directive is within the powers of President Rodrigo Duterte under the Constitution and the Administrative Code.

Marcos, however, does not possess the status of a "hero" as the government said it acknowledged the "dark pages of history during Martial Law," where thousands had been killed and jailed for opposing the one-man rule.

No official date has been set on the interment, but reports said it was slated on September 18.

Duterte, who considers the Marcoses his friends, hinted that he might attend the burial if in good health and without pressing matters on schedule that day.  — VVP, GMA News