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Burying Caesar: The debate on the hero’s burial for Marcos
As one of the controversial issues about our history and Philippine politics rise again, the true essence of heroism is pondered gingerly.
A hero means a prominent or central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; and a man honored after death by public worship because of exceptional service to mankind.” — Dr. Esteban de Ocampo (Historian, National Historical Institute)
We often perceive “heroism” as an act of intrepidity. Sometimes, we give the title “hero” to someone who give pride to our country. That being said, anyone could be a hero — a beauty queen, a boxing champion, a teacher, OFWs. But as one of the controversial issues about our history and Philippine politics rise again, the true essence of heroism is pondered gingerly.
The unending battle on the burial of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) has opened hope for his family and wounds for the victims of Martial Law. Filipinos have opposing views regarding this matter. Despite the reign of terror during Marcos’ presidency, there are still people who believe that the late president deserves to be buried at the Libingan.
Marcos loyalists firmly believe that the late president is the best president the Philippines has ever had.” His son, Sen. Bongbong Marcos said he was “best president ever” according to surveys since 2011. Then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, in his proclamation rally, told a delighted crowd that he thought Marcos was the best president if not for the dictatorship.
In their view, he had significant contributions to our country when he was in power and it is just one of the reasons why he can and should be buried at
the Libingan. Marcos was the president and the people put him in power two times, according to them. He served the country and “did what needs to be done.” When people were being uncontrollable, he proclaimed Martial Law. It was said to be the right thing to do to end the anarchy. The Marcos family also pointed out that FM’s presidency and his track record in the military are basis for the burial at the LNMB. Our President, Rodrigo Duterte also stated that the law provides that Marcos should be buried at LNMB as he was a war veteran. “Even if he was not a hero, he was a soldier,” said the President.
On the other side, there is an arising wave of protests against the Marcos family and their supporters’ clamor for a hero’s burial for the dictator. As the petitioners said, it is a battle between Marcos and history. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) published a 17-page treatise as to why Marcos should not have military honors and burial
at the LNMB. It was cited that “Mr. Marcos’s military record is fraught with myths, factual inconsistencies, and lies. The rule in history is that when a claim is disproven such as Mr. Marcos’s claims about his medals, rank, and guerrilla unit, it should simply be dismissed. When, moreover, a historical matter is under question or grave doubt, as expressed in the military records about Mr. Marcos’s actions and character as a soldier, the matter may not be established or taken as fact. A doubtful record also does not serve
as sound, unassailable basis of histor- ical recognition of any sort, let alone burial in a site intended, as its name suggests, for heroes.”
That alone is why it is necessary to check facts and historical records to know if the late president truly deserve to be buried at LNMB. And with all the allegations — 3,257 victims of extra-judicial killings, 35,000 tortured, and 70,000 incarcerated under Marcos’ dictatorship, so much unexplained wealth, economic catastrophe that led us to debt crisis, does Ferdinand E. Marcos deserves to be buried beside the honorable people who leave exceptional mark to our country?
Does he, a person who did not even feel the need to apologize for the victims and the people who were stripped of their human rights, who were tortured or killed, who were still missing, the people he robbed of a brighter future, should be honored as a hero?
This fight against our history should cease because Philippines will never heal if people are divided, if people are drowned with their self or political interest. ■ By Ma. Joan B. Sauler (This article was first published in September 2016 on the AH Volume V, Issue 1, Newsletter Issue)
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