The court is expected to rule on November 8 whether it will approve President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to allow the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at Manila’s National Heroes’ Cemetery 27 years after the strongman died. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
The Supreme Court is expected to rule today on the petitions opposing the Duterte administration’s controversial plan to bury the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Eight justices are needed by either side to win their case.
The Supreme Court has earlier extended until November 8 the status quo ante (SQA) order that had initially stopped the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines from preparing for the burial.
The planned burial was initially set on September 18.
The October 18 announced decision was the second extension on the order. The first status quo ante order was issued on August 23, and was effective for 20 days. This was to last until September 12.
But the high court extended the SQA until October 18 at the end of oral arguments last September 7.
There are seven petitions filed with the Supreme Court opposing the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Among these petitions are groups of martial law victims led by former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Commission on Human Rights chair Etta Rosales; a group of students from the University of the Philippines; and a group led by former senator Heherson Alvarez.
Former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao human rights chair Algamar Latiph and Senator Leila De Lima were also among those who filed petitions against the controversial burial.
Petitioners argued that the burial would violate constitutional provision on state policies, and that it was ““illegal and contrary to law, public policy, morals and justice.”
Government lawyers, meanwhile, led by Solicitor General Jose Calida said President Duterte’s decision allowing Marcos‘ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayan was beyond judicial review.
