SELDA says no to Marcos burial at “Libingan ng mga Bayani”

Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Chairperson of Karapatan and SELDA (an organization of former political detainees, mostly detained during the martial law era) today called on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to “be more circumspect” on the issue of the burial of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

“The Marcos family has not even apologized to the Filipino people for the plunder of the nation’s coffers during in the more than 20 years that they were in power. There is no remorse,” Hilao-Enriquez added.

“Burying Marcos, Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is what the Marcos family wants the most for it will pave the way to clear Marcos’ name from the numerous human rights violations he committed during Martical Law,” she said.

SELDA instead urged the President-elect to order the GPH Claims Board to hasten the process of recognition and indemnification of the martial law victims, which has taken a longer time than what is stated by law. SELDA members spearheaded the class suit filed against Ferdinand Sr. in Hawaii. The plaintiffs succeeded in the court case as the Hawaii Federal Court, and later the US Supreme Court found Marcos guilty of human rights violations.

“We, families of victims refuse to bow down to one family’s desire to do what they like to do just because they belong to a powerful few. Let it be remembered that the Marcos family was kicked out by the Filipino people in 1986. That they were able to come back to the country is more than enough. It’s time to stop the haughtiness the Marcoses are displaying. They must return all the money they stole from the national coffers and render justice to the people they victimized.” Hilao-Enriquez concluded.

Hilao-Enriquez is among the initiators of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacanang, which campaigned against the vice-presidential bid of Bongbong Marcos. ###