MANILA – Malacanang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte will respect the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the proposal to bury former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
”The President is so clear about him respecting the decision of the SC on that matter,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Ana Marie Banaag said in a press briefing.
Banaag made this reaction on the SC’s decision to extend to Nov. 8 the status quo ante (SQA) order stopping the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines from preparing Marcos burial at the heroes’ cemetery.
It was the second time the SC extended the stay order since it was issued on Aug. 23. The last time was Sept. 18.
The SC decision was based on the petition filed by the martial law victims last Aug. 15.
Before the Tuesday’s SC extended ante order, Marcos’ children — former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos,Jr., Irene Marcos and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos joined at least 1,000 Marcos supporters who held an overnight vigil in front of the SC along Padre Faura.
Marcos died while in exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after a bloodless People Power revolution forced him to leave Malacanang after two decades in power.
President Rodrigo Duterte believes Marcos deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani being a former president and a soldier. Jelly Musico/PNA-northboundasia.com