BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan called on the public to respect the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing the burial of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City and for everyone to start moving forward.
The local chief executive admitted he has his own personal sentiments about the matter but the High Court already handed down its verdict which all sectors of society must give utmost respect to put the issue to its final rest.
“The Supreme Court carefully studied the legal issues that will apply in rendering its decision allowing the burial of former President Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani that is why the ruling deserves the utmost respect from the people to put the issue to rest and for everyone to start healing the wounds of martial law,”Domogan stressed.
On the issue of the filing of a motion for reconsideration to seek a reversal of the ruling, he pointed such move is the perfect legal option of those who were not satisfied on the decision but the probability of the SC reversing its earlier ruling on the matter is quite remote.
According to him, it is clear in the SC decision that it did not dwell on the issue on whether or not the former strongman was a hero but it laid down the legal basis on why he should be buried in the Libingan ng mga bayani which were clear that he was a former soldier and veteran, he was a former lawmaker and more importantly, he was a former Chief Executive.
Domogan claimed putting the long standing issue on allowing the former president to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani to rest will allow the healing of the wounds caused by the alleged human rights abuses during the martial law years and for everyone to start bringing the country to greater heights.
Voting 8 justices in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention, the SC ruled that the former President is qualified to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani because he met the qualifications for a perso to be buried in the sacred place like he was a former soldier and veteran, he was a former lawmaker and more importantly, he was a former president.
The SC stated former President Marcos was never convicted in a case that is related to moral turpitude and that the cases filed against him were purely civil cases which does not concern moral turpitude.
He asserted based on the legal parameters established by existing laws, rules and regulations, former President Marcos is qualified to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and that his burial in the said cemetery does not make him a hero but it will history that will judge whether or not he is a hero.
Domogan appealed to local residents to start moving on from the recent SC ruling because people cannot get anything if they continue to be sour raping about the ruling.
By Dexter A. See