AFP military honors for Marcos opposed
Broad sections of the Filipino people are opposed to a proposal by Vice Pres, Jejomar Binay to Pres. Benigno Aquino III to allow the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte with full military honors. Such opposition has been expressed not only by patriotic groups but also by US-based democratic groups.
In a related development, seven progressive congressmen filed House Resolution No. 1297 opposing plans to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
They said Marcos was a fake hero, as attested to by exposés by Col. Bonifacio Gillego and United States Army Records stating that Marcos falsified his "brilliant record" during World War II. They also said that Marcos who was a dictator and people's enemy like Adolf Hitler of Germany and Anastacio Somoza of Nicaragua does not deserve to be honored.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said that Binay's recommendation to Aquino sends the wrong message to the Filipino people. It is an insult to Filipinos who fearlessly fought to overthrow the US-Marcos dictatorship. Among them are the president's father who was a victim of assassination by the Marcos regime. Granting Marcos full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani or in Ilocos Norte, for that matter, implies that dictatorships should be honored instead of being condemned by history.
In the US, a Filipino-American group has expressd outrage at Binay's proposal. The US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) sent a protest letter to Aquino but has not received a reply.
