Nov. 10 2016, 9:57 p.m. – THE CATHOLIC Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, calling it “an insult to the EDSA Spirit.”
The statement, signed by CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, said the high court’s decision was “another step to build the culture of impunity in the country” and “mocks our fight to restore democracy.”
“Marcos is not hero! He should be presented as one,” the statement said.
The CBCP said Marcos and his cronies should be made accountable for human rights violations committed during the 20-year authoritarian regime.
“The victims of human rights abuses have not been properly compensated for. This is a matter of justice,” the statement said. “Justice demands recognition of the harm done to the people and restitution to the victims.”
Last Nov. 8, the Supreme Court reached a 9-5 decision favoring the Marcos burial ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte in fulfillment of a promise to the Marcos family during the election campaign.
The decision, penned by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, argued that there was no grave abuse of discretion on Duterte’s part in ordering the burial as there was no law to prevent it.
