The family of the late President Ferdinand Marcos may now proceed with preparations for the burial of the former leader at the heroes’ cemetery, President Duterte said after insisting he would not change his mind on the matter.
The President argued that he was simply following the law that allows former presidents like Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Besides, Duterte pointed out that the “sins of Marcos” have yet to be proven in a competent court.
“I’ve said before, I will not take my word back,” the President said in a press conference at the Manila airport, a day after the Supreme Court allowed Marcos to be buried at the heroes’ graveyard.
“As a lawyer, I stick by what the law says. The law says that soldiers and ex-presidents, ‘yung namatay o maski hindi siguro ex, basta presidente ka, doon ka ilibing,” he added.
With the Supreme Court consent on the Marcos burial, Duterte said he told former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to go ahead with the preparations during a meeting in Tacloban City Tuesday.
“Sabi niya na ano, same question with you, ‘Can we now proceed?’ I said: ‘Yes you can,’” Duterte said recalling his conversation with the former senator. (Genalyn Kabiling)