Imee Marcos seeks simple soldier’s funeral for father

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Marcos family only wants a simple funeral for the former president, Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos said following the approval of the Supreme Court (SC) to inter the remains of the former deposed strongman at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB).

Marcos’ eldest daughter Imee assured that their family does not plan a grand state funeral. 

"Wala ng bonggang-bongga. Tutal hindi naman state funeral, kundi libing lang ng isang kawal, ng isang sundalo, ang minimithi ng ama ko," she said in a statement.

Marco’s eldest daughter added: "Talagang 'yon ang gusto niya… Sundalung-sundalo kasi ang tatay ko, maski sa ospital… gusto niya, Veterans, V. Luna," referring to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the V. Luna General Hospital also known as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Hospital, both hospitals in Quezon City that provide medical care to Filipino veterans and military personnel.

Imee maintained that the former president's military service record recounts him as a guerilla under both the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), for the Bataan Death March of 1942, and the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFP-NL).

She cited how the former strongman was quoted in the Hartzell Spence biography “Marcos of the Philippines” as saying, "We were soldiers meant for death and pain… When I returned to the safety of convalescence, many who had accompanied me on the death march were no longer with us… Many of them had died of frustration and heartbreak as I almost head… When the spirit is broken, it is easy to die."

“Inalay niya naman ang buhay niya. Naka-ilang beses naman siyang nasa kritikong kalagayan, at talagang suicidal pa nga ang tawag sa kanya doon sa Medal of Valor," she said. 

According to AFP Regulations G 161-373, the deposed strongman is entitled to interment at the LNMB on basis of the following qualifications: Medal of Valor awardee, president, secretary of national defense and veteran of World War II.