Manila - The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos should not be buried in the Philippines’ Heroes’ Cemetery, rights activists said on Tuesday, opposing a suggestion by the incoming president.
Rodrigo Duterte said burying the late strongman there would “erase from amongst our people one hatred.”
Filipinos remember keenly the widespread repression and embezzlement of the Marcos regime from 1965 to 1981. Marcos’ body is currently held in a refrigerated crypt by his family.
“I will allow Marcos’ burial in Libingan ng Mga Bayani [Heroes’ Cemetery] not because he was a hero but because he was a Filipino soldier,” Duterte said Monday evening.
Bonifacio Ilagan, a victim of torture during Marcos’ 20-year dictatorship, urged Duterte to reconsider.
“We know he’s aiming for reconciliation, but as far as we are concerned, reconciliation must be based on justice,” he told dpa.
“This will add insult to injury of the human rights victims who have not yet received justice.”
Cristina Palabay, secretary general of rights group Karapatan, urged Duterte to focus instead on justice for victims of abuses and educating Filipinos about the transgressions of Marcos’ rule.
“It’s not about hatred, it is about the rights and wrongs in history,” she told dpa. “It cannot erase the historical memory of the wrongs done during martial law. There should be an effort to correct, establish and recognise the historical memory.”
Many Filipinos also spoke out online.
“Travesty. We might as well bury our democracy,” tweeted Jayeel Cornelio.
“Do it and insult our country,” added another Twitter user called Pilosopinoy.
Marcos ruled the Philippines for 20 years and imposed martial law for nine years from 1972. Thousands of critics, opponents and activists were detained, tortured or killed.
He, his family and associates were also accused of stealing an estimated 10 billion dollars from the national coffers.
In 1986, Marcos was ousted by a popular uprising and fled to the United States, where he died three years later.
Marcos’ widow and children returned to the country in 1991, and have kept his body in a refrigerated crypt in his home town of Bataca in Ilocos Norte province since 1993.
His son and namesake, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Junior, ran for vice president in the May 9 elections and is in a close race with administration candidate Congresswoman Leni Robredo.
DPA