President Benigno Aquino III is studying the recommendation of Vice President Jejomar Binay on the issue of a hero’s burial for the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, and may make his decision public by Sunday or Monday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte declined further comment on the issue until Aquino makes public his decision on the matter.
“We should allow him [Aquino] a little time to go over the recommendations and to decide ano ang ia-approve niya at ano ang hindi," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
Asked when Aquino's decision will be made known, she said: “Siguro if not tomorrow (Sunday), Monday makakapagbigay tayo ng statement... on the matter."
A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper on Saturday cited a Malacañang source that Binay recommended Marcos’ burial in his native Ilocos Norte province, with full military honors.
The report also quoted Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the late strongman’s son, as seemingly warm to the idea.
Marcos’ family had pushed for the late president’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
But Valte refused to comment further on the matter.
“Wala pa tayong masasabi at the moment... dahil inaaral pa ang recommendations," she said.
Aquino had instructed Binay to handle the issue of whether Marcos should be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, to prevent possible accusations of "bias" on the matter.
Personal feelings
But Valte said handing down a decision may “not (be) as simple as it may seem" because Aquino has “personal feelings and considerations" on the issue.
In his campaign last year, Aquino frequently mentioned how he and his family suffered during Martial Law under Marcos, including body searches on his late mother Cory when she visited her detained husband, the late former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
In 1986, the late Cory Aquino was swept to power in a bloodless revolution that ousted Marcos.
“Alam natin lahat na may personal feelings at considerations si Pangulong Aquino on the issue. Hindi sikreto ang pinagdaanan ng kanayang pamilya. The president does not want to let that get in the way of making the decision," Valte said.
“Again, alalahanin natin na kaya tinalaga ni Pangulong Aquino si Vice President Binay na magbigay ng recommendation sa issue dahil sa personal history at involvement ni Pangulong Aquino at involvement ng kanyang pamilya at history nila involving the Marcoses," she added.
She added Aquino wants recommendations on the matter to come from an “objective" source.
No deal with Marcoses
Valte insisted there was no deal with the Marcoses in reaching the supposed compromise arrangement.
She was referring to speculations that the administration arrived at the compromise so Sen. Marcos will push the passage of a bill postponing elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from August this year to 2013.
“Walang kinalaman ang burial issue sa postponement ng ARMM elections (It is not tied to the postponement of the ARMM elections)," she said.
Valte also appealed to human rights groups and other sectors to hold their reactions until the President decides on Binay's recommendations.
She also belied speculations that the recommendations will eventually be useless because Aquino has the final say anyway.
“Hindi naman sa walang saysay ang mga recommendation, gusto lang makita ni Pangulong Aquino ang naging basehan," she said. — LBG
