[In the news] Aquino yet to decide on Marcos burial | Sun.Star

Aquino yet to decide on Marcos burial | Sun.Star. MANILA –- The decision of President Benigno Aquino III on the burial of his father’s political rival – late strongman Ferdinand Marcos – remained indefinite. “At the moment I think it’s still under consideration, it is still being studied,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. told reporters…

Human Rights Online Philippines

June 12, 2011

2–3 minutes

Angelo Reyes, Batac, Benigno Aquino III, Benigno Aquino Jr., CPR, ESCR, Ferdinand Marcos, Ilocos Norte, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Martial Law, Martial law victims, Paquito Ochoa Jr

Aquino yet to decide on Marcos burial | Sun.Star.

MANILA –- The decision of President Benigno Aquino III on the burial of his father’s political rival – late strongman Ferdinand Marcos – remained indefinite.

“At the moment I think it’s still under consideration, it is still being studied,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. told reporters Sunday after the traditional vin d’ honneur in Malacañang alongside the 113th Independence Day celebration.

Ochoa refused to give further details regarding the President’s point of view on the matter avoiding making statements that might differ with Aquino.

“It is hard to comment with certainty because it is still subject to discussion. I’m sorry I cannot give you a definite answer yet,” he said.

He added no deadline will be set and only the President could make the proper announcement about it.

Aquino is expected to announce his decision on the burial last week but no announcement was made.

The President’s spokesperson said he has still have to go over the recommendation of Vice President Jejormar Binay.

Binay, whom Aquino designated to decide on the burial, has recommended full military honors for Marcos.

His remains however is recommended to be buried in his hometown in Ilocos Norte and not at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which several lawmakers including the late strongman’s only son and namesake Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos have been pushing.

Binay said his decision was based from consultation with various sectors in the society.

The Marcos family earlier said they are supporting the recommendation of Binay as they want to issue to be finally resolved.

Proposal for the former president’s burial at the heroes cemetery was revived after the late Defense Secretary and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes was buried there after committing suicide in February amid corruption allegations.

Aquino inhibited himself from deciding on Marcos’s burial to avoid bias since his father Ninoy Aquino was a known political rival of the late dictator.

Marcos’s remains still lies in a refrigerated coffin in the family’s ancestral home in Batac City. It has kept there since 1993. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)