Drilon asks Duterte to reconsider Marcos burial

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Franklin Drilon on Monday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to allow the late President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

The president has given the go-signal for the Marcos family to bury the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on September 18.

"At this point in the history of our country where Filipinos are starting to hope again, what our nation need is unity in order for our country to succeed socially, economically and politically," Drilon said in a statement.

Drilon added that such sensitive issue will not help as it would further divide the nation.

"Hence, such a sensitive issue would not help but only divide our people and reopen the wounds of the past that up to now, were not completely healed," the senator said.

Duterte earlier said that he will allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan because he was a president and a soldier, making him qualified to be buried in there.

READ: Rody OKs FM Libingan burial

The president also said that Filipinos may hold protests if they do not agree with the burial of the late dictator in the heroes' cemetery.

“I can grant you permit for one month, you can protest all you want, just name the place, Luneta or Quiapo or wherever you want,” Duterte said.

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