The loyalists of Ferdinand Marcos were reminded by Deputy
Speaker Fredenil Castro that the dictator was buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani
not as a hero, according to the Supreme Court, but as a former president and
soldier.
“It did not say that he would be buried at Libingan ng mga
Bayani because he is a hero. That is an issue that has yet to be resolved to
this day because it was sidestepped by the Supreme Court,” Castro said in a
radio interview.
“What the Supreme Court merely said was he can be buried
there because he was a soldier and a former President, and that is in
accordance to the law,” said the Capiz representative.
The Marcos loyalists should not blow up the issue by saying
that Marcos was a hero, said Castro.
“Perhaps they should just keep that in their hearts because
that has yet to be proven. And in fact, that heroism is under question because
of the many things discovered … which does not qualify him to be a hero. In
fact, many say that [Marcos] faked his records and medals. Even the US
government said it did not confer to him a medal,” Castro said.
There was “enough legal process that where they could
ventilate their opposition” Castro said to those opposing the burial.
“We have the laws like the right to claim damages. If they
know who were responsible for the death or disappearance of their loved ones,”
Castro said, including the prescriptive period for criminal liability does not
apply in this instance as the culprits have not yet been identified and haled
to court.
A lawyer and former activist, Castro was also a martial law
victim. Asked if the crime could still be blamed on Marcos, Castro said it was
possible.
“But considering he has died, it is his estate that would be
liable for this. Criminal liability ceases after his death … And since his
estate had been inherited by his children, it is his children who would be
responsible for the damages,” Castro said.
