Noy junks calls for burial for FM

NEW YORK – President Aquino has shut the door once more on renewed calls for a hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying it’s something he won’t be able to explain to the people if he relents.

“Perhaps, this is my answer. If I were to be given authority, I will not volunteer to explain why he should be buried there. It’s not in my power to explain to the people why he should be given such honors,” Aquino said in  Filipino in a sit-down interview with Manila-based reporters at the Omni Berkshire Hotel where he is billeted.

Aquino is in the US for the UN General Assembly and Climate Change Summit. 

“Many are saying I should have myself removed from the equation lest I get accused of getting personal. They say it’s his right, he was president legitimately from – in the two terms ending in 1973,” he said.

Aquino said there has been much opposition to the request of the Marcos family for the ousted president to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Marcos was the archrival of Aquino’s father and namesake, who was assassinated in August 1983. The murder was believed to be on orders of the dictator.

Aquino said the Marcos regime lost its legitimacy after the declaration of martial law in September 42 years ago. A military-backed civilian uprising ousted Marcos in February 1986.

President Aquino earlier said that when he was 23 years old he had desired to exact revenge on the Marcoses for the murder of his father.

In 2011, Aquino requested Vice President Jejomar Binay to assess whether Marcos should be accorded burial privilege at the Libingan even if thousands had suffered during martial law. Binay’s proposed solution is to allow burial honors for the late strongman but in the latter’s home province of Ilocos Norte. This was rejected by Aquino.

“The President has spoken on that regard already and since the Marcos family is not appealing the decision of the President, let’s leave it at that,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said then.