Amnesty: Marcos burial a betrayal of people's trust

MANILA, Philippines -- Amnesty International Philippines expressed its dismay at the government on Friday for its lack of diligence in taking decades to hold those responsible for grave human rights violations accountable.

The group added that by President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani makes the military shrine a reminder that impunity still reigns and that the government continues to turn a blind eye to injustice.

"While the Philippine government continues to award reparation to those still living and recognize their heroism and sacrifices through the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board, it should not turn its back to a greater commitment of delivering justice to the victims which is beyond monetary," the group said. "This commitment includes not betraying the people's trust."

Another rights group, Karapatan said in a press statement on November 11 that it condemns the nine Supreme Court justices who voted to allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng  mga Bayani.

"The atrocities during martial law are more than enough reason not to bury him at any heroes’ pantheon. We are still paying for the billions of dollars of debt left by the Marcoses," it said.

Karapatan added that it will support the martial law victims in their efforts to attain justice, and will continue to educate the people, especially the youth, on the atrocities during martial law.

"We will continue to struggle for real social change, not only on the kind that rests on mere change of presidents and administrations, but based on the people’s aspirations for genuine freedom and democracy," Karapatan said.

A day after the Supreme Court handed down its decision, US-based Human Rights Watch said "the Philippine government should be seeking accountability and redress for Marcos’s victims rather than honoring the man ultimately responsible."

It also said doing so would also send a strong message to today’s violators of human rights that they too will face justice, even if it is a long time coming.