Palace: Duterte allowing Marcos burial at Libingan a ‘courageous act’

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Thursday described President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to allow former dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as a "courageous act." 

"I did not say this is a minor event. It's putting an end to it and I think it's a very courageous, the fact that he [Duterte] has allowed it, is a courageous act already," Abella said at a press briefing in Lima, Peru shortly after their arrival.

While the President understood that there would be a "segment of society" against the Marcos burial at the Libingan, Abella said Duterte believes the highly-opposed burial will eventually bring national healing.

"In the past, he [Duterte] has said, 'Let history judge, but I will do what is legal and the Supreme Court has ruled that it is,'" he said.

"Some people resent that statement about moving on, but I believe it's a reasonable thing to ask that the people do after this event, they will set aside their differences and learn to build bridges, that we might build strong relations which the President is attempting to do. It's a difficult situation. But we hope Filipinos may be able to overcome and build a strong and lasting nation," he said.

Abella also quoted Duterte appealing to both pro- and anti-Marcos groups to exercise "maximum tolerance" following the burial of the former dictator at the Heroes' Cemetery. — Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News