(Eagle News) — Voting 9-5, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 8) voted to allow the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery).
The nine high court justices who voted to allow the burial are Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco Jr, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez, Teresita de Castro, Jose Mendoza, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
The justice who dissented were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, together with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza, and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
The “shocked” petitioners against the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, immediately held a press conference criticizing the high court for its decision, while the supporters of the Marcos camp holding a vigil at the Supreme Court rejoiced.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said he was “very happy” that he could finally bury his father at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
“We are very grateful to the Supreme Court for its decision,” he said in an interview by CNN Philippines.
He said this was a recognition of the rights of his father as a soldier and a former president of the country.
He also thanked President Duterte for his “strong support for the rule of law.”
Senator Marcos, who was in Tacloban City in an event remembering the third anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy, said the decision was “an important step to the healing process and the reconciliation process.”
Cherry Cobarrubias, one of the known Marcos loyalists, said, “I’m really happy. The Holy Spirit really enlightened the justices.”
“Tama na. We have to forgive each other. We have to move on,” she said to the anti-Marcos activists who continue to oppose the controversial burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
While the Marcos camp and the Marcos supporters rejoiced, the anti-Marcos activists who were among the petitioners who tried to stop the planned burial of Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery, said they were “sad and shocked”.
Aida Santos, one of the petitioners, even slammed the high court claiming that the SC had been already “politicized.”
“Itutuloy namin ang laban. Marami pa pong paraan para makamit namin ang katotohanan at hustisya,” she said during the petitioners’ presscon.
