Sept. 11 Libingan burial eyed for FM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Call it a burial for a soldier, not a hero, even if it is at the cemetery reserved for the nation’s heroes.

In an effort to “erase one hatred” among Filipinos, incoming president Rodrigo Duterte will allow the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, possibly on the dictator’s 99th birth anniversary on Sept. 11.

Meeting the press last night, Duterte said the honor of being buried at the hero’s cemetery – long opposed by those who fought the dictatorship led by the family of President Aquino – would be in recognition of Marcos’ service as a soldier.

“The issue on the burial of President Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani has long created divisions among our people,” Duterte said. “I will allow the burial of President Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani not because he is a hero. He was a Filipino soldier, period. That can be arranged immediately.”

Asked if Marcos could be buried on his birthday on Sept. 11, one year short of his 100th birth anniversary, Duterte replied, “I’m OK with that. I don’t mind.”

“He was a soldier. Huwag na yung hero-hero,” he said.

Marcos died of kidney, heart and lung ailments while in exile in Hawaii on Sept. 28, 1989. His remains were brought back to the Philippines in 1993, and have since been kept in an air-conditioned crypt at the family mausoleum in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Visitors can view the remains encased in a glass coffin.

President Aquino and victims of the Marcos dictatorship have described the hero’s burial as “the height of injustice.”

Also last night, Duterte said he was ready to free inmates described by the communist National Democratic Front as political prisoners, even before the conclusion of peace negotiations that he has promised to resume with the NDF.

He said the rebels should return to the negotiating table and show good faith during the talks.