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11682655
LEGRES G01
Reflection Paper on Marcos Burial
One of the biggest issues that surround out country nowadays is the
once proposed and eventual burial of the late President and Dictator
Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos was known for his long reign as the Chief
Executive of the Philippines, being in office from September 11, 2016 until
being ousted due to the People Power Revolution in 1986. His tenure was
made famous for the declaration of Martial Law and the different injustices
that came out during the regime.
Being preserved in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte, several
moves have already been attempted by the family of the late dictator to
ensure his place in the much revered Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB),
only for the requests to be denied by the administration of the Presidents
who came after him. Talks once again arose when the now President
Rodrigo Duterte, during his campaign, has stated his intention of burying the
remains of the former dictator in the LNMB. Duterte eventually won the
presidency and kept true to his word by ordering the immediate burial of the
remains of the former dictator in the said cemetery. Duterte justified his
order by stating that the former dictator was once also a president and a
solider, which makes him qualified to be buried in the LNMB. Criticisms
arose from the public for the said order which caused a number of concerned
citizens to file a case upon the Supreme Court in order to prevent the said
burial. The cases G.R. No. 225973 (Saturnino C. Ocampo, et al. v. Rear
Admiral Ernesto C. Enriquez, et al.), G.R. No. 225984 (Rep. Edcel C.
Lagman, Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND), et al. v.
Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.), G.R. No. 226097
(Loretta Ann Pargas-Rosales, et al. v. Executive Secretary Salvador C.
Medialdea, et al.), and G.R. No. 226116 (Heherson T. Alvarez, et al. v.
Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.), G.R. No. 226117 (Zaira
Patricia B. Baniaga, et al. v. Secretary of National Defense, et al.), G.R. No.
226120 (Algamar A. Latiph v. Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, et al.) and G.R.
No. 226294 (Senator Leila M. De Lima v. Executive Secretary Salvador C.
Medialdea, et al.) were all filed and consolidated by the Supreme Court for
their decision.
The petitioners contended that respondents Secretary of National
Defense and AFP Rear Admiral committed grave abuse of discretion,
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, when they issued the assailed
memorandum and directive in compliance with the verbal order of President
Duterte to implement his election campaign promise to have the remains of
Marcos interred at the LNMB. They have also asserted that issuance and the
implementation of the assailed memorandum ordering the burial of Marcos n
the LMNB violate the Constitution, domestic, and international law. Another