“This is a horrible day for democracy.”
This is how Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan described November 8, when the Supreme Court decided to vote in favor of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The High Court was divided 9-5, with nine in favor of junking the petitions of the Martial Law victims against Marcos’ burial.
“Thanks to the Supreme Court, the Philippines will be a laughing stock of the world,” Pangilinan said in his official statement.
He also called the Supreme Court’s decision as “shameful and deplorable.”
“We kicked out a reviled dictator and now we are honoring him by burying him in our national heroes cemetery. No less than our Supreme Court wants our citizens, our children to honor a plunderer and tyrant. This is shameful and deplorable,” Pangilinan added.
The senator also slammed how the court’s decision will now have “dictator” Marcos buried alongside Filipino heroes.
“Now the Supreme Court wants Mr. Marcos, who it previously called a “dictator…who caused twenty years of political, economic and social havoc in the country”, buried alongside our heroes,” he said.
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The Supreme Court’s ruling has “reopened old wounds,” according to Pangilinan.
The senator added that this decision is far from putting closure on the issues of Martial Law as it will only serve to “create a huge divide” among the Filipinos in the years to come.
He also noted the fact that Republic Act 289, which governs who deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, states that the sacred cemetery are intended only for those who are worthy of emulation by “this generation and of generations still unborn.
Pangilinan put emphasis on how Marcos is not a hero and how his burial will desecrate the Philippines’ democracy and those who died for the country’s freedom.
“Marcos is not a hero. His burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani desecrates our democracy and the memory of those who fought for freedom and justice in our country,” he concluded.
This is Pangilinan’s statement on the Marcos burial translated to Tagalog:
“Kahindikhindik ang araw na ito para sa demokrasya.
Dahil sa Korte Suprema, ang Pilipinas ay katatawanan sa mata ng buong mundo. Pinatalsik natin ang kinamumuhian na diktador at ngayon pinararangalan naman natin siya sa pamamagitan ng paglibing niya kasama ang ating mga pambansang bayani. Ang Korte Suprema mismo ang nagnanais na parangalan ng ating mga kababayan, ng ating mga anak ang isang mandarambong at diktador. Nakakahiya ito at nakakalungkot.
Ngayon, nais ng katas-taasang hukuman na si Ginoong Marcos, na dati nitong tinawag na isang ‘diktador… na siyang gumawa ng dalawampung taon ng kaguluhan sa pulitika, ekonomiya, at lipunan ng ating bansa”, ay mailibing kasama ng ating mga bayani.
Sa halip na lumikha ng epektibong resolusyon bilang huling tagahatol ng lahat ng mga alitan, binuksan muli ng Korte Suprema ang mga lumang sugat. Kung sa tingin ng Korte Suprema na ito ang magsasara sa usapin ito, nagkakamali sila. Ang paglibing kay Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani ay lilikha ng matinding pagkakahati na gagambala sa ating bayan sa mga darating na araw at taon.
Ayon sa batas na gumawa ng Libingan ng mga Bayani, sagrado ito at para lang sa mga bayani na dapat tularan ng lahat ng henerasyon.
Hindi bayani si Marcos. Ang paglagak ng kanyang mga labi sa Libingan ng mga Bayani ay pambabastos sa ating demokrasya at sa alaala ng mga lumaban para sa kalayaan at katarungan ng ating bayan.”
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After the Supreme Court’s decision was released, rallies were staged in various cities all over the country on Tuesday, November 8. Protests were held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Los Baños, Baguio, and Cebu and at the Ateneo campuses in Katipunan, Davao, and Makati.
Sources: (facebook.com, chanrobles.com)
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