Archbishop Villegas: It’s an insult to the EDSA spirit
MARCOS BURIAL AT LNMB
LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said to bury former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani “is an insult to the EDSA spirit”.
“It mocks our fight to restore democracy,” Villegas said in a statement.
He said bishops are puzzled and are saddened by the decision of the Supreme Court to allow the burial of former President Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He said they see this as another step to build the culture of impunity in the country.
”Marcos is no hero!” he said, and should not be presented as one.
Villegas recalled how Marcos made many people suffer through arbitrary torture and death during martial law. “He deprived many poor people of their basic needs, while his family and cronies were enriched,” he said.
“Burying Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani will not bring peace and unity to the country,” Villegas maintained adding that peace can only come if there is justice. “Justice demands recognition of the harm done to the people and restitution to the victims,” he said.
He said they should first admit the wrong they have done, and should be held accountable. “Up to now this is not being recognized by the Marcos family and his cronies,” he said.
“Yes, we do not forget and we will not forget!” he said.
Meanwhile, 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said the Supreme Court has spoken, and urged the people “to respect it and let the healing begin.”
Batoil told local newsmen during the KBP Forum Thursday that he supports the decision of majority of the Supreme Court justices, “and hopefully this will now be the turning point of our history towards continuing unity among Filipino people.”
He said, he understands the healing may take a long time because there were people affected especially during Martial Law. “And we respect that, we know their sufferings, we know their pain,” he said.
Bataoil, a former police official, said he had seen some of the human rights violations in the field “and at this point in time of my life, it pains me also because if you put yourself in their shoes, the suffering can take a lifetime.” (Tita Roces)
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