Poe thankful Marcos burial case now with SC

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines – Sen. Grace Poe said no president should decide who will be buried at the heroes’ cemetery.

Instead, she said, the decision must be made by a commission composed of independent individuals.

Poe noted that she said during the election season that the move to bury strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani would create a stir as there is a law that recognizes atrocities during martial law.

“So if (the law) recognizes that (atrocities during martial law), why should we allow (a heroes’ burial)?” Poe told journalists yesterday during her visit in the Central School here, where she gave free lunch to school kids on the eve of her birthday. 

She added that it is good that the Marcos burial issue was brought to the Supreme Court to prevent the decision from being politicized.

Poe cited the argument that Marcos as a former soldier should be buried at the heroes’ cemetery.

“So it’s really vague. So we tell the Supreme Court that they are really the ones that should decide on it,” she said.

Poe also said in politics, leaders must follow what they believe is lawful, whether it concerns family, friends or relatives. She then recounted that the Marcoses call her kabsat, an Ilocano word for sibling.

The media then brought up the urban legend that Poe is Marcos’ daughter with an actress, the sister of Poe’s adoptive mother, to which Poe said: “Kayo naman (you people).”

She explained that while she told Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator, that she admires the initiatives of the Marcoses that are beneficial to the people like what she witnessed in the Ilocos region, “in matters that need a lawful decision, as a senator, that’s what I’m pushing for.”