Solicitor General Jose C. Calida told the Supreme Court yesterday that burying the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libi-ngan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) “is not to honor him as a hero, even if by military standards he is, but to accord him the simple mortuary befitting a President.”
During yesterday’s resumption of oral arguments on several petitions challenging Marcos’ LNMB burial, Calida – representing the government in the cases – said the LNMB in Taguig City is not only for heroes but primarily for soldiers and statesmen.
The solicitor general pointed out that Marcos was not only former President as he was a member of Congress, Senate President, and a recognized military and war veteran.
He said that Marcos was neither dishonorably discharged nor convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
Dishonorable discharge can only happen through court martial, he explained.
As a matter of fact, he said that since April 9, 1994, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos has been receiving P5,000 in monthly pensions from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
Acting on the petitions against the LNMB burial of Marcos, the SC has issued a status quo ante order (SQAO) that stopped the government from implementing the order of President Duterte. The SQAO expires on September 12.
(Rey G. Panaligan)