(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to anti-Marcos forces, particularly those who have been hurt by the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ more than 20-year rule to find a space in their heart for forgiveness, after the former strongman was buried in tightly guarded rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Speaking before he attended the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Lima, Peru, Duterte said that the issue about the Marcos burial was a very raucous one, but that he was just sticking to legalities when he had initially directed the burial of the former president at the National Heroes’ Cemetery.
“Well, it seems to be a very raucous issue for the nation but I would like to pray that everybody would find a space in his heart for forgiveness,” Duterte said before his attendance at a weekend summit of Pacific Rim leaders in Lima, Peru.
He urged those who had been hurt by Marcos’ rule to also file a case in court.
“And for those who have been somehow hurt or endured that they can take some other, for those detained for so long and suffering, they have this option to file a case against the late President Marcos,” Duterte said.
-Duterte sticking to principles of law-
“You know, these sins cannot beset the children. And, liability is always personal. That’s a principle of law na sunod-sunod natin (we should follow),” he said.
Duterte said he was being “legally strict” when he allowed Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
He stressed that Marcos was a president for a long time, and a soldier, and as such there is no legal impediment that would prevent his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where all the other soldiers who have served their country are laid to rest.
“President Marcos was a president for so long and he was a soldier. So that’s about it. Whether or not he performed worse or better, there is no study, there is no movie about it. It’s just the challenges and allegations of the other side which is not enough,” he said.
Denying Marcos his dying wish to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery, Duterte said, “hurt” people in the Ilocos Region, where Marcos is from.
“You know… we have a divided nation, though not that widespread. You can be very sure all the Ilocano-speaking people are hurt. They are dismayed. It’s been there floating like flotsam,” he said.
-Malacanang appeals for sobriety –
In Malacanang, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said, “The decision to bury the late President Ferdinand Marcos today is personal to the Marcos family.”
“We respect the choice of date of the interment. The Supreme Court lifted the status quo ante order and allowed the interment of the remains of the former strongman,” he said.
Andanar said that “what the government did was to extend the necessary assistance, especially on matters relating to protocol and honors.”
“We are fully aware that there is a segment of society which is against the burial at the LNMB. The President fully understands this and will always respect freedom of expression as long as it is legal and peaceful,” he said.
Andanar explained that the government is hoping that “sobriety and reason will prevail so that we can focus on what has to be done to attain sustained economic growth, social progress and political stability in the years ahead.”
-Fitting to hear other voices – Aquino-
Meanwhile, former President Benigno Aquino III said it is now “fitting” to hear the other voices.
In a statement released through his former Deputy spokesman, Abigail Valte, he sent his word that it was important to learn about the stories of those who perished during the Martial Law regime.
“Former President Aquino believes, at a time like this, it is fitting that we hear the voices of others: learn about their stories, the persons behind the statistics, their loved ones lost to the regime of Martial Law. They should never be forgotten,” Valte said.
