Former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos died in the year 1989, but the issue of whether his remains should be buried at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, the final resting place of those regarded as heroes of our country such as soldiers, presidents, statesmen, national artists and scientists, continuously draws a debate between those who are for or against it. My personal view as a concerned citizen of this country who is at the same time a bonafide Martial Law baby and one who was there during the original People Power Revolution is one in the negative. This is on the basis that indeed by the name itself, Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, a state cemetery, is apt only to those who led heroic lives.
Sadly, EDSA People Power Revolution, the event in that February of 1986 that brought the Philippines a good place in world history marred Marcos’ chance of being declared less of a hero. Wouldn’t we be a laughing stock if the man we called a dictator, who ruled us for twenty years, whom we know in our hearts amassed ill-gotten wealth and in whose administration was heading human rights violations and tortures and who we subsequently and successfully ousted on that fateful day of February 1986, after we have thought that yes, enough is enough, we now consider a hero should we give in to a proposal for his remains to be interred in the cemetery we reserved only for people with dignity? Certainly, not. Certainly, never.
Perhaps, Ferdinand Marcos may have his own heroism in the past worthy of a hero as a valiant soldier during World War 11, yes, who knows, but, his role as the Commander in Chief of the Philippines which unfortunately he blew up during his 20-year old rule as a dictator could have brought the ultimate yardstick of why he cannot be considered a hero at all. Yes, he might not be found guilty in the court of law. Nor the Marcos’ wealth still under litigation with no end in sight. But the biggest and a particular special court already passed judgment to Mr. Marcos. His mandate was clearly removed by people that fateful 3-days of February 1986, thus, he cannot be entitled to a heroic burial. The countries of the world recognized the legitimacy of Mrs. Aquino’s government. That, beyond a reasonable doubt made the former dictator guilty and lost any right he may have had as a soldier to be buried in the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. One cannot be a hero and a tyrant all at the same time. That is as simple as that. Any argument negating this fact is I think will be an unfruitful effort of sort.
The Marcos family could have moved on to this fact and should have the humility to put him to his resting place elsewhere and yes, accept the closure of that part of history. By prolonging his burial and preserving him in a glass coffin in his hometown Batac, clearly shows that it is the Marcoses’ that cannot close the chapter of the country’s history and continue to hold on to the family’s wish to bury their patriarch in the hallowed grounds of the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani even if it does not warrant it. For obvious reasons, it is easy to assess why the Marcoses’ insist of a heroes burial. It has nothing to do with his stature as a former president. Neither it is for his being a soldier and being honored as one. It is all about a bid for power and to restore the Marcos’ family name. If it is not delusional, I don’t know what it is. They had their time and they blew it. “Tama na, Sobra na” (Enough of it, we have so much of that already), as the familiar chant went.
They may have revived their presence in this country with moderate success, however diminished it may be, but this does not literally erased the fact the Filipinos continuos struggle against justice and oppression under his regime is never ending.
Former President Ferdinand Marcos has earned his part in our country’s history. It is also history that passed judgment on him. Let us not rewrite it. Let us move forward. Yes, probably he too deserves a decent burial, but elsewhere. He too deserves to rest in peace.
