Two motions were filed yesterday to reconsider the Supreme Court November 8 decision that allowed the burial of President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
The motions were filed by the so-called victims of enforced disappearances and human rights violations represented by Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman and former Bayan Muna Rep. Saturnino Ocampo, respectively.
The groups claimed that the burial of the Marcos remains at the LNMB last November 18 does not render their motions moot and academic.
Lagman’s group pressed for the exhumation of the Marcos remains and the conduct of forensic examination to determine what was actually buried at the LNMB.
In a 9-5 vote with one abstention, the SC allowed Marcos burial at the LNMB. Ten days from the issuance of the SC decision that lifted the status quo ante order against the burial, the remains of Marcos were interred at the LNMB.
Seven petitions against the burial, including those filed by the groups of Lagman and Ocampo, were dismissed by the SC.
Earlier, Lagman had sought the re-issuance of the SQAO, while Ocampo had pleaded the SC to cite in contempt officials of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for allowing the interment. Their manifestations have yet to be acted upon by the SC.
Lagman’s group told the SC that Marcos’ burial at the LNMB was a “gross distortion, a malevolent revision, and a wanton derogation of Philippine history.”
It said “the burial of a condemned dictator, confirmed plunderer, and censured violator of human rights in the Cemetery of Heroes will not lead to closure because it sanctifies evil and installs a despot and oppressor in the venerable memorial for good men.” (Rey G. Panaligan)