SC: No order prohibiting Libingan burial

MANILA, Philippines - Despite a pending appeal against a Supreme Court vote in favor of a Libingan ng mga Bayani burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, there was no order from the high tribunal to stop his family from pushing through with the interment, SC spokesman Theodore Te said yesterday.

In a text message, Te said the 9-5-1 SC vote last Nov. 8 in favor of the Marcos burial was still valid as of yesterday.

“The status as of Nov. 8 up to today (Nov. 18) is that the petitions are dismissed and the status quo ante order is lifted. Even if there is a motion for reconsideration, the legal status is that there is no order that stops the act at the moment.” Te said.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal questioned President Duterte’s citing of the rule of law in allowing Marcos to be interred at the Libingan despite the fact that the SC has not issued a final and executory decision on the issue.

“If President Duterte is for the rule of law he should be the first to show concern why a decision of the SC which is not yet final and executory could be implemented,” said Macalintal.

He added that the SC should take action on this development because “it defies the SC’s existing order and the rules of court. It is SC’s duty to make statement on this issue, since it involves its decision and order which are not yet final and executory.”

Meanwhile, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) expressed outrage at the Libingan burial for Marcos. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the LNMB,” it said.

“In the midst of the Friday rush, the burial of a tyrant dictator was schemed. Seeking to muffle a mounting call for justice, the devious and despicable accelerated their plan to bury a dishonorable man at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” the PCPR said.

The group also criticized President Duterte for his political accommodation and agreeing to have Marcos interred at the Libingan.

“For his political accommodation in the highest degree, we denounce President Duterte’s orchestration of this farce as well as the AFP’s criminal connivance in executing such falsehoods,” said the PCPR.