Former political prisoners, victims under martial law hit Enrile proposal for Marcos burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani

Press Release
By SELDA
February 16, 2011

MANILA  –  An organization of former political prisoners, many of them victims during Martial Law, today vehemently opposed the proposal of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, calling it an “affront to the Filipino people and the thousands of victims of the Marcoses.”

Fr. Dionito Cabillas, secretary general of the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, said almost two decades of military rule under Marcos spawned numerous human rights violations, including summary executions, enforced disappearances, torture, illegal arrests and detention, hamletting and forced evacuation, among others.

“Immediately after People Power I, when the Filipino people drove Marcos, his family and military generals out of power, SELDA led the victims of human rights violations in filing a class action suit against the Marcoses in the United States Court. In September 22, 1992, the US Federal Court issued its landmark judgment in favor of the Marcos victims.  The said decision has found Marcos guilty of gross human rights violations and the Estate of Marcos is liable to pay damages to the victims. How can a fascist dictator-president, ousted by the Filipino people, be deemed a hero?” Cabillas asserted.

Cabillas recalled that this similar proposal came up in 1999, under the Estrada presidency, and was vigorously opposed by the public.