Palace says no definite date yet set for Marcos burial

MANILA—Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella on Thursday clarified no definite date yet has been set for the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

”There is no definite date as of now,” Abella said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

According to reports, the Marcos family is already preparing the burial of the former dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Sept. 18.

”The only thing that is certain is that he will be accorded ceremonies fitting a president,” Abella said.

Abella explained that President Rodrigo Duterte allowed Marcos’ burial at the hero’s cemetery because he was a former president.

”From the PRRD’s perspective and basis is the fact that FM (Ferdinand Marcos) was past president and that it was being given consideration for. So he is not making any reference to the dilution of any law,” he said.

Several civic organizations and the victims of martial law during Marcos regime have expressed strong opposition to the plan to bury Marcos at the hero’s cemetery.

Malacanang has said Pres. Duterte will not stop public demonstration against his decision to allow the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Pres. Duterte also said the government will assign only a few law enforcers to manage the traffic in areas near the rally sites.