MANILA, JUNE 4, 2011 (PHILSTAR) AT
GROUND LEVEL By Satur C. Ocampo - A Filipino-American group that says its
members supported President Aquino in the May 2010 elections expresses dismay
over his "seeming abnegation of responsibility" over the controversial proposal
to bury the remains of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani.
Responding to this column's discussion of the issue (May 21), a member of the
US Pinoys for Good Governance emailed to me the group's May 10 letter to Mr.
Aquino, signed by Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairperson, Rodel Rodis, president, Ted
Laguatan, spokesperson, and 67 others.
Attached were copies of email exchanges among USP4GG members, all outraged
over the idea of making Marcos a hero.
The letter urges President Aquino to "take charge" and "openly declare to the
Filipino people that the late dictator was absolutely no hero and that you owe
it as your duty… not to have Marcos buried as a hero at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani - not only now but forevermore."
Laguatan assures that I can freely quote the USP4GG letter as well as his
personal views. Three members, Greg Mariano Jr. (who emailed the letter),
Charito Benipayo (who urges "mass action ASAP"), and Jessy Ang likewise have
agreed to be quoted.
Ang, a psychiatrist, laments:
"It is sad that the Marcos family can get away with a national crime,
emboldened by unprincipled large number of congressmen and a president who has
abandoned his moral leadership to do the right thing… I ask Ted to contact the
progressive groups, such as Bayan Muna, Akbayan, and Gabriela to hold a
candlelight vigil in front of Malacanang… and the Philippine Congress to show
our disapproval.
"I am afraid that the civil societies have been demoralized and disillusioned
by supporting leaders that promise change, [but] when they assume office . . .
become obstacles to the radical reforms our nation needs."
Mariano Jr. wonders why President Aquino hasn't replied to the USP4GG letter
handed to him on May 16, when the law (RA 6713) requires public officials and
employees to reply, within 15 working days from receipt of letters or other
means of communication sent by the public, stating the action taken on the
request.
Portions of the USP4GG letter state:
"As an absolute dictator, (Marcos) engaged in all kinds of corruption and
also stole directly from the nation's treasury, amassing an indecent fortune
while Filipinos starved. US military records also prove that Marcos' claims of
having been awarded 27 medals for heroism in WWII are blatantly false. In short,
President Marcos was far from a hero; he was a villain who brought shame,
suffering and impoverishment to the Filipino people."
"[If Marcos were buried as a hero] we would be the laughing stock of the
world and be the subject of ridicule. We would be shamed, disrespected and
dishonored. Overseas Filipinos would especially suffer much.
"We also don't need a Marcos hero's burial for us to move on. If in fact that
happens, it will continuously disturb our peace and national self-respect
because we know that a terrible lie has been imposed on us."
These portions drip with pain:
"Like millions of Filipinos in the homeland, we supported [you: President
Aquino] in the 2010 elections believing that you would be true to your promise
to provide the moral leadership to rid the country of institutionalized
corruption and other evils.
"However, your seeming abnegation of responsibility on this important issue
is very disturbing. By passing this onus to the Vice President, the perception
is that as President you do not want to provide the proper leadership to protect
the people and nation from being dishonored and insulted by the possible hero's
burial of a despotic corrupt former President.
"With all due respect, we view as puzzling your reason from recusing yourself
from this issue: 'I don't want to appear biased.' Every right-thinking
individual should be biased against honoring and burying as a hero a man who in
truth and in fact was a villain. While your intention may have been to be fair
to all which is admirable true fairness involves adherence to truth. The obvious
truth: Marcos was clearly not a hero.
"Among other things, burying him as one would bring to naught the honor and
pride we acquired as a people from the EDSA revolution which toppled the
dictatorship and inspired people around the globe to bring down similar corrupt
regimes. It would also seem to waste the sacrifices paid for with blood by the
President's father and other true heroes and martyrs for our people's freedom
and dignity."
Howls Dr. Philip S. Chua, chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA: "Hell
NO! Marcos is no hero!"
Laguatan, a lawyer, bluntly avers:
"When P-Noy passed the responsibility of making the decision to Binay . . .
he was playing accommodation with the Marcoses. It's conceivable that he now has
a friendly relationship with Bongbong and Imee. His best friend Ochoa and
Bongbong's wife are law partners, providing the bridge system to enhance that
relationship.
"Commendable if it's for the good of the country; bad if it is for their own
selfish personal interests."
What's President Aquino's response to all these?
TODAY'S STAR HEADLINE
Military honors in Ilocos for FM? Palace mum By
Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated June 04, 2011 12:00 AMComments (2)
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday refused to comment on the
recommendations of Vice President Jejomar Binay regarding the burial of ousted
dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying it was still studying the matter.
Reports had it that Binay has recommended full military honors for the burial
of Marcos but the interment service must take place in Ilocos Norte and not at
the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
"We will issue a statement (today) regarding the Vice President's
recommendation," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
President Aquino earlier declined to rule on the issue, being the son of the
late President Corazon Aquino and assassinated former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
It was the assassination of Aquino's father in 1983 that paved the way for
the ouster of Marcos in 1986 through a people power revolution, which installed
his mother as president of the country.
Aquino said he did not want any "personal bias" to affect his decision on the
matter.
Marcos' son and now senator Ferdinand Jr. earlier said they would not insist
on their father being buried at the Libingan.
"As pointed out by at least two of my colleagues at the Senate, the late
president, by virtue of his services as a soldier during World War II and his
being a former commander-in-chief and former president of the Republic, twice
elected, is entitled to no less than a state burial. We do not, however, wish to
add to the numerous problems besetting President Noynoy Aquino's administration
and I am sure the President himself feels likewise," the senator said in a
statement to the media.
"That is why the Marcos family has always been willing to explore any
reasonable compromise wherein the late president be finally given a proper state
burial," he added.
Marcos said he believes that "this is an opportunity to finally put behind
old issues that divide us and galvanize our countrymen to move our nation
forward towards a better future for all Filipinos."
Lozano hits MBC
Meanwhile, lawyer Oliver Lozano, a Marcos loyalist, belittled the opposition
of the Makati Business Club (MBC) to the burial of the former president at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani.
"President Aquino should ignore noisy minority who doesn't represent the
sentiment of the Filipino people," Lozano told The STAR.
He said the MBC's statement was expected because they had an axe to grind
against the late president, who imposed anti-oligarchy measures that affected
the interest of some people, including MBC members, during his administration.
Lozano said the hero's burial for the former leader would pave the way for
political reconciliation and would allow the country to move towards economic
recovery.
The official position of the House of Representatives, the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and even the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey favored the
burial of the former leader at the Libingan.
Lozano appealed to the members of the MBC to end their hate campaign against
the former president and listen to the voice of the majority of the Filipino
people.
He also lauded President Aquino for his move to seek public consensus on the
issue.
"I am confident President Aquino will listen and take into account the voice
of the majority of the Filipino people. We are expecting that this issue would
be finally resolved before the Sept. 11 birthday of the late president," Lozano
said.
The former president's body remains in a refrigerated crypt in the family
mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. – Perseus Echeminada
Chief News Editor:
Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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