Source: Rappler.com
(UPDATED) The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos thanks the High Court for its ‘magnanimous act to uphold rule of law’ and President Rodrigo Duterte for his ‘unwavering commitment’ to deliver on a campaign promise
2016 Vice-Presidential Candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos continues to visit various places in the north on the second day of his election sortie on Wednesday, February 10. Photo by Jasmin Dulay/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr on Tuesday, November 8, thanked the Supreme Court for favoring a hero’s burial for his father which, he hopes, would lead to national “healing.”
Speaking on behalf of the Marcos family, the former senator said in a statement, “It is our sincerest hope that this will lead the nation towards healing as we endeavor to move the country forward to give every Filipino a better life.”
Marcos thanked the Supreme Court for allowing the interment of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He said by this, the High Court has upheld the rule of law.
He also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his “unwavering commitment” to deliver on his campaign promise to his family.
“We are deeply grateful to the Supreme Court for its decision to allow the burial of my father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Once again, the Supreme Court has taken a magnanimous act to uphold the rule of law,” said Marcos.
“We also would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever be thankful for his kind gesture,” he added. The Marcoses supported Duterte in the last campaign.
In an interview with reporters in Tacloban City, where he attended the commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the former senator reiterated his position that a hero’s burial for his father “is a good step in terms of healing we have been fighting for 30 years.”
He said his family would now restart discussions on details of the state burial, including the date, which would be decided upon by their mother, Leyte First District Representative Imelda Marcos.
By a vote of 9-5, the High Court rejected petitions that sought to stop the burial of the late dictator, after two rounds of oral arguments on August 31 and September 8. (READ: SC orals on Marcos burial: Issues and answers)
Duterte expressed his support for Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani during the presidential campaign, and promised the Marcoses and Ilocanos that he would make this happen if he won the presidency. – with reports from Jazmin Bonifacio/Rappler.com