Signature drive for Marcos Libingan burial reaches SC

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Marcos loyalists are submitting today to the Supreme Court signatures showing support for the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Thousands had affixed their signatures on a house-to-house and online campaign launched by various Marcos loyalist groups like the United Marcos Loyalist of the Philippines and Kilusang Kaisipan at Diwang Pilipino and the BBM Youth Movement.

Marcos counsel Hyacinth Antonio said the submission will be timed with the memoranda of respondents and petitioners with the SC TRO on the burial last month.

They want to bring to the SC’s appreciation that so many Filipinos are favoring a hero’s burial for Marcos based on what the law prescribes, she added.

Among the primary points in their manifestation is the fact that Marcos was a former president of the republic and a soldier, Antonio said.

UMLP president Vince Avena said it’s about time that the Philippines moves on.

“This cannot happen as long as we let the past dictate our life as a country today,” he said.

“Though we do not ask that the past be forgotten, we should, however, as the only self-proclaimed Christian nation of Asia, forgive. Whatever former president Ferdinand Marcos has done in the past, the Almighty God has already judged him; that being the case, who are we to withhold from him the kind of burial he deserves?

“As the Supreme Court of the land, we ask that the judges not be swayed by their personal opinions of people who think they have been unjustly treated – but as impartial judges, decide based on the law of the land.” 

Harrold Toledana of BBM Youth said they are launching the signature campaign to support the Marcos family and to have the late strongman buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.