The bonds that intertwine the Laurels and Marcoses

The appointment of Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as Agriculture secretary didn’t happen as an impulsive or reckless happenstance. It’s the result of scrutiny and deliberation of the Marcoses, driven by a long tradition of gratitude of the Marcoses from Batac, Ilocos Norte, to the Laurel Clan of Tanuan, Batangas. Justice JP Laurel saved the father of President BBM from the death penalty.

The great Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose P. Laurel Sr., on October 22, 1940, penned the decision in the case of People versus Mariano Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos, Pio Marcos, and Quirino Lizardo, GR no L-47388, which acquitted the late father of BBM from the murder of congressman-elect Julio Nalundasan. In the election for the National Assembly held on September 17, 1935, the grandfather of BBM, Mariano Marcos ran for congressman under the party of presidential candidate Gregorio Aglipay. His opponent was Nalundasan who belonged to the party of presidential contender Manuel Quezon. Quezon and Nalundsan won in that hotly-contested election.

On the afternoon of September 19, 1935, in celebration of Nalundasan's victory, a number of this followers and partymen paraded in cars and trucks through the municipalities of Currimao, Paoay, and Batac, Ilocos Norte, and passed in front of the house of the Marcoses in Batac. The parade is described as provocative and humiliating for the defeated Mariano Marcos. Nalundasan, was not, however, destined to reap the fruits of his political laurels for on the night of September 20, 1935, he was shot and killed in his house in Batac. Investigation by the Philippine Constabulary followed, as a consequence of which an information was filed in the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte charging businessman Nicasio Layaoen of Batac, Ilocos Norte, with having committed the murder.

But Layaoen was acquitted and after a certain witness volunteered incriminating information against the Marcoses, they were charged and convicted. Ferdinand Marcos, who was then reviewing for the Bar Exams, was arrested and jailed. He was the one who prepared the appeal to the Supreme Court. He didn’t only pass the Bar, he came out number one with a very high rating of 92.35%. He was even summoned by the Supreme Court to answer some questions and answered them all extemporaneously. The justices were impressed. Ferdinand Marcos was acquitted. It was a double whammy; topping the Bar and being acquitted by the Supreme Court. It was Justice Laurel who saw in FM the makings of a future president.

Justice Laurel wrote in his decision: "In view of the importance of the case and the fact that the Government asks for the extreme penalty of death for the defendants-appellants, Ferdinand Marcos and Quirino Lizardo, we have taken over the case on appeal with utmost caution and searching scrutiny of the evidence presented both by the prosecution and by the defense. As a general rule, this court will not interfere with judgment of the trial court in passing upon the weight or credibility that should be attached to the testimony of witnesses; but this court may determine for itself the guilt or innocence of the defendant and may modify or reverse the conclusions of fact laid down by the trial court if there is some fact or circumstance of weight and influence which has been over- looked or the significance of which has been misinterpreted."

Because of reasonable doubt, Laurel acquitted Marcos, saying: "In passing we may state that the prosecution deserves commendation for the industry and zeal it has displayed in this case, although its failure to obtain the conviction of Nicasio Layaoen in the first case it is not necessarily vindicated by the instant effort to secure a judgment against the herein defendants-appellants, unless the latter's guilt is shown to the point of a certain degree of moral certainty and the judicial mind is set at ease as to their culpability. The judgment of the lower court, herein appealed from is accordingly reversed, and the defendants-appellants, Ferdinand Marcos and Quirino Lizardo, acquitted of the charge of murder and forthwith liberated from imprisonment and discharged from the custody of the law, with costs de oficio."

Thus, even if the Laurels led by the late vice president Salvador Doy Laurel opposed Marcos and favored Cory Aquino in the EDSA Revolution, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., BBM, and all the Marcoses have a large debt of gratitude to the Laurels. This appointment of Francisco Tiu Laurel isn’t only well-deserved based on the appointee's own credentials. This too is a partial payment for the huge debt of the Marcoses to the Laurels.