This month, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos has scheduled but deferred to bury at the Libingan ng mga Bayani granted by PDu30 as Marcos’ family and loyalists insist to avail this. Is he a hero? No. Is he entitled? Yes
The person buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani doesn’t necessarily mean that he is a hero. It seems just a name of the cemetery. It’s just like Manila Chinese Cemetery doesn’t mean that all buried there were Chinese. Marcos is not and was not a hero. However, his remain is entitled technically to bury at Libingan ng mga Bayani to the fact that he was a former president of the Republic or as a WWII soldier. So why do we protest? why we oppose of his burial in this place? Let's bury Marcos wherever they want.
Here are the policies for interment in this cemetery:
1. Medal of Valor awardees
2. Presidents or Commanders-in-Chief, AFP
3. The secretaries of National Defense
4. AFP Chiefs of Staff, General/Flag Officers, active and retired military personnel, and former AFP members who laterally entered/joined the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
5. Veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the First and Second World Wars, as well as recognized guerrillas
6. Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and other deceased persons whose interment has been approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense, and
7. Former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense, widows of former Presidents, Secretaries of National Defense and Chiefs of Staff
Is it the burial place matter for being a hero? I think not. Jose Rizal remains was just buried in a pity grave in Paco cemetery without markings. Andres Bonifacio was just dumped in a pit together with his brother somewhere in woods of Maragondon.
As what I interpreted the heroism of late Marcos as it has being insisted by his family, it's same as saying, "hoy, mabait ako ha", and I reply, "ah ok, sige mabait ka...sinabi mo e...ikaw na"!
Some people don't understand and being carried away by their emotion. I am having a bit of worry about this. Maybe some consternated people will dig out his body from that cemetery and throw at the Pasig river.
P.S.
Even Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, and other common known heroes couldn’t call legitimate heroes. Until now, there’s no written law, or republic act declaring them as heroes. Ironically, for the record, the ONLY Philippine national hero is Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr, as it had congress resolution and declared by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arryo in 2003.
