Bishop Nixes Burial of Marcos at Heroes' Cemetery

MANILA, March 31, 2011— A Catholic archbishop has opposed calls to allow the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery.

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said many Filipinos will not allow such idea especially those victims of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship.

“I’m a Filipino citizen and I’m against it. We know how massive the human rights abuses during the Marcos regime,” Ledesma said.

The prelate was reacting to a congressional proposal to allow Marcos to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery in an interview over Radyo Veritas Thursday.

According to him, lawmakers should first determine the view of the public before pursuing the plan.

“Before pushing that, the sentiments of the people especially the victims of human rights violations must be considered,” Ledesma said.

The victims, he said, are surely against allowing the body of the late strongman to be reburied at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The body of Marcos has been lying inside a refrigerated crypt in the Marcos Mausoleum in Ilocos Norte since 1993. [CBCPNews]