House passes bill declaring Marcos holiday in Ilocos

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading yesterday a bill declaring Sept. 11 of every year as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte.

Lawmakers voted 197-9 to pass House Bill 7137, which seeks to commemorate the birthday of Marcos in his bailiwick and home province.

Ilocos Norte second district and Marcos’ nephew Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba is among the principal authors of the measure.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the nine lawmakers who voted against the proposed measure, argued that Marcos does not deserve such an honor.

“In the same manner that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is not truly entitled to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani because of the gross repressions and corruption during the Marcos martial law regime, he does not also deserve a President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day,” Lagman said.

“The birthday of one who has arrogated and abused power, defiled human rights, and betrayed the people’s trust must not be celebrated by a legislated holiday,” he added.

The Supreme Court allowed the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016 despite strong objection from human rights victims during martial law.