Burial of Ferdinand Marcos#Protests

After Ferdinand Marcos died in 1989, his family attempted to bring his remains from Hawaii to the Philippines but then-President Corazon Aquino imposed a ban against the entry of Marcos' remains into the country. This was lifted on October 9, 1991, by Aquino on the condition that Marcos' burial would not be used for political purposes and on the condition that the body of Marcos be flown directly to Laoag. Executive Secretary Franklin Drilon said that a "hero's burial" would be allowed if held in Marcos' home province instead of Manila. Imelda Marcos, the wife of Ferdinand Marcos, opposed the move saying that the dying wish of her husband was to be buried in Manila.{{cite news|title=Aquino agrees to Marcos burial|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=msFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3917%2C3019396|access-date=August 16, 2016|agency=New York Times News Service|publisher=Gainesville Sun|date=October 10, 1991}} In January 1992, the Philippine government stated that it may not oppose the burial of Marcos anywhere in Metro Manila provided that Marcos' body was flown into the country after the 1992 Philippine election in May. The Marcos family opposed the condition and was waiting for a ruling of the Supreme Court at that time regarding their petition to bury Ferdinand Marcos as soon as possible.{{cite news|title=Philippines may allow burial of Marcos in Manila|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zYJUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2055%2C2151124|access-date=August 16, 2016|publisher=New Straits Times|date=January 7, 1992}}

The transfer of Marcos' body would not be done until the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. It was during Ramos' term that a memorandum of agreement was made between the government and the Marcos family in 1992.{{cite news|last1=Remito|first1=Rex|title=Alunan: 1992 Ramos-Marcos burial deal no longer binding|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/18/Alunan-Marcos-burial-Ramos-deal.html|access-date=August 18, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=August 18, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820103906/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/18/Alunan-Marcos-burial-Ramos-deal.html|url-status=dead}}

There were four conditions agreed by both parties:{{cite news|last1=Gamil|first1=Jaymee|title=Deal: Marcos burial in Ilocos|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/805893/deal-marcos-burial-in-ilocos|access-date=August 16, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=August 14, 2016}}

1. The remains of Ferdinand Marcos were to be flown directly from the US state of Hawaii to the province of Ilocos Norte.
2. Military honors for someone with the rank of major were to be given to Marcos. This was the last rank to be held by Marcos during his service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
3. No parade displaying Marcos' body was to be held in Metro Manila.
4. Marcos' body was not to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but in Ilocos Norte.

File:Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center sign.jpg in Batac, Ilocos Norte until 2016.]]

According to Rafael Alunan III, former Interior Secretary and one of the signatories of the agreement, the third clause was agreed upon due to "wounds [that] were still fresh in the minds of many people" and to avoid potential instability. He also said that the former President Marcos wanted to be buried beside his mother in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Also according to Alunan, after the signing of the agreement, Imelda Marcos crossed out the burial clause and wrote in that Marcos was to be "temporarily interred" instead of being buried in Ilocos Norte. Alunan said that the terms of agreement could not be changed after it was signed but Mrs. Marcos insisted and came up with a new agreement paper with the changed clause. The revised paper was not signed by the government.

It was on September 7, 1993, that the body of Ferdinand Marcos was flown into the Philippines. From Hawaii the body was flown to Guam then to Laoag in Ilocos Norte. The body of Marcos was not buried but was instead preserved in a refrigerated crypt hosted inside the Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center. In Honolulu, Hawaii, Marcos' body was also stored in a refrigerated crypt.

Ramos' successor Joseph Estrada attempted to organize a burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Then President-elect Estrada had negotiations with Marcos' wife Imelda who initially also demanded state honors for the burial but later agreed to a burial without state honors. It was determined that Marcos would be buried on July 11, 1998. The planned burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani still received opposition even after state honors were not to be included in the planned burial. Former President Corazon Aquino was among those who opposed the move. Estrada remained firm on his decision until{{cite news|title=Estrada stands firm on Marcos burial|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z9QtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7zEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2257%2C77564|access-date=August 16, 2016|work=The Nation|date=June 16, 1998}} July 1998 when Estrada decided against the plan amidst public opposition saying that it would be better if the Marcos family agreed that Ferdinand Marcos be buried in Batac to put an end to "bitter differences" and give rest to "various emotions and sentiments that flared up".{{cite news|title=End to Marcos burial dispute|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3vxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3hQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5346%2C2540787|access-date=August 16, 2016|publisher=New Straits Times|date=July 13, 1998}}

In April 2011, then President Benigno Aquino III tasked then Vice President Jejomar Binay to study whether to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani or not. The Office of the Vice President received 3,000 responses from various political parties, sectors, organizations, and members of the public on the issue. Binay recommended the burial of Marcos in his hometown of Batac with full military honors. Aquino did not act on the recommendation.{{cite news|last1=Cepeda|first1=Mara|title=Binay camp: Aquino sat on proposal to bury Marcos in Ilocos Norte|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/143276-binay-camp-aquino-failed-proposal-bury-marcos-ilocos|access-date=August 16, 2016|work=Rappler|date=August 16, 2016}}

Rodrigo Duterte supported the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, even before he assumed presidency and expressed this stance at his presidential campaign in the 2016 elections. Duterte has expressed that a burial of Marcos at the site would commence the "healing" of the Philippines and pointed out Marcos' idealism and vision for the country through his projects which "stood the test of time" and that Marcos' dictatorship "remains to be debated". Duterte previously stated that Marcos could have been the best president if not for the abuses during the Martial law period under Marcos' watch.{{cite news|last1=Ranada|first1=Pia|title=Duterte in Ilocos Norte: I will allow Marcos' burial in Heroes' Cemetery|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/123061-duterte-marcos-burial-libingan-bayani|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=Rappler|date=February 19, 2016}} At the Visayas leg of the PiliPinas Debates 2016, Duterte and fellow candidate Jejomar Binay expressed their support for a Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.{{cite news|title=Presidential candidates' stand on divorce, death penalty, Marcos|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/20/Roxas-Binay-Duterte-Poe-Santiago-divorce-death-penalty-Marcos.html|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325082622/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/20/Roxas-Binay-Duterte-Poe-Santiago-divorce-death-penalty-Marcos.html|url-status=dead}}

On August 7, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte gave the order to bury former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani saying that Marcos was qualified to be buried at the cemetery due to being a "former president and a soldier". Duterte said he was open to demonstrations against the burial plan but insisted that the former president was qualified to be buried at the cemetery. He also added that the burial date may be moved to September 11 which was the birthday of the deceased president.{{cite news|title=Duterte confirms Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/07/marcos-libingan-ng-mga-bayani-burial.html|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=August 9, 2016|archive-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810042355/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/07/marcos-libingan-ng-mga-bayani-burial.html|url-status=dead}}

Amidst criticism that Marcos did not deserve to be buried at the cemetery, Duterte said that burying Marcos at the site did not equate to Marcos being a "hero in the true sense of the word". He pointed out that former soldiers and presidents are allowed to be buried at the cemetery and that he would be violating the law if he did not push through with the burial and added that the previous administrations should have passed a law to bar Marcos from being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Duterte said he doesn't care about the dispute regarding the authenticity of Marcos' war medals and the non-appearance of Marcos' alleged World War II service in United States records.{{cite news|title=Duterte: Marcos burial at Libingan ng Mga Bayani 'doesn't mean he's a hero'|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/577299/news/nation/duterte-marcos-burial-at-libingan-ng-mga-bayani-doesn-t-mean-he-s-a-hero|accessdate=15 August 2016|work=GMA News|agency=JST|date=11 August 2016}} While at Peru attending the 2016 APEC Summit during the burial day, he even said of Marcos: “Whether or not he performed worse or better, there is no study, there is no movie about it. It's just the challenges and allegations of the other side, which is not enough.”{{cite news|title=Media Interview – Lima, Peru|url=http://rtvm.gov.ph/ambush-interview-lima-peru|accessdate=22 November 2019|work=Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacanang|date=18 November 2016}} These insinuations however were disputed by many individuals and organizations - providing an exhaustive list of books, movies among other related media, about Marcos and/or Martial Law.{{cite news|title=NO STUDIES ON MARTIAL LAW?|url=http://ateneo.edu/news/research/no-studies-martial-law|accessdate=22 November 2019|work=Ateneo de Manila University|date=22 November 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128180306/http://www.ateneo.edu/news/research/no-studies-martial-law|url-status=dead}}

{{see also|Fake news in the Philippines|Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos}}

In 2018, Dr. Jason Cabañes of the University of Leeds School of Media and Communication and Dr. Jonathan Corpus Ong of the University of Massachusetts Amherst released a study of organized disinformation efforts in the Philippines, titled "Architects of Networked Disinformation: Behind the Scenes of Troll Accounts and Fake News Production in the Philippines."{{Cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4184/fake_news_production_and_social_media_trolls|title = Fake news production and social media 'trolls'}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/02/12/1787103/ad-pr-execs-are-chief-architects-disinformation-philippines-study|title = Ad, PR execs are 'chief architects' of disinformation in Philippines — study| website=The Philippine STAR }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/disinformation-architects-philippines|title=Chief disinformation architects in the PH: Not exactly who you think}} Based on participant observation in Facebook community groups and Twitter accounts, as well as key informant interviews with 20 "disinformation architects," conducted from December 2016 to December 2017, the study described a "professionalized and hierarchized group of political operators who design disinformation campaigns, mobilize click armies, and execute innovative “digital black ops” and “signal scrambling” techniques for any interested political client."{{cite web |last1=Ong |first1=Jonathan Corpus |last2=Cabanes |first2=Jason Vincent A. |title=Architects of Networekd Disinformation: Behind the Scenes of Troll Accounts and Fake News Production in the Philippines |url=https://newtontechfordev.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ARCHITECTS-OF-NETWORKED-DISINFORMATION-FULL-REPORT.pdf |publisher=University of Leeds |access-date=17 March 2024}} This network had “ad and PR strategists at the top.”

Ong and Cabañes' 2018 study uncovered the existence of a "Ilibing Na" ("Bury now") campaign designed to create public support for a hero's burial for Ferdinand Marcos using "diversionary tactics to elude allegations of human rights violations and corruption during the term of Ferdinand Marcos" and launching "digital black ops that targeted prominent critics” of the Marcoses, particularly vice president Leni Robredo."

The study also revealed that these networks had previously launched a "personal branding" campaign meant to "tell a revisionist account of the 20-year Marcos regime as 'the golden age of the Philippines'" using such tools as YouTube videos "in a bid to restore the political luster of the Marcos family."

{{Infobox court case

|name = Saturnino C. Ocampo, et al. v. Rear Admiral Ernesto C. Enriquez, et al.

|court = Supreme Court of the Philippines

|image =

|imagesize =

|imagelink =

|imagealt =

|caption =

|full name = {{smalldiv|{{Collapsible list| title = List (7) |bullets=on|Saturnino C. Ocampo, et al. v. Rear Admiral Ernesto C. Enriquez, et al.|Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND), et al. v. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.|Loretta Ann Pargas-Rosales, et al. v. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.|Heherson T. Alvarez, et al. v. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.|Zaira Patricia B. Baniaga, et al. v. Secretary of National Defense, et al.|Algamar A. Latiph v. Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, et al.|Senator Leila M. De Lima v. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, et al.}}}}

|date decided = {{start date|2016|11|8}}

|citations = {{unbulleted list|G.R. No. 225973|G.R. No. 225984|G.R. No. 226097|G.R. No. 226116|G.R. No. 226117|G.R. No. 226120|G.R. No. 226294}}

|ECLI =

|transcripts =

|judges = Maria Lourdes Sereno, Antonio Carpio, Presbitero Velasco, Teresita de Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose P. Perez, Jose C. Mendoza, Bienvenido Reyes Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa

|number of judges = 15

|decision by = Justices [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973.pdf Diosdado Peralta]

|concurring = [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_brion.pdf Brion], Velasco Jr, Peralta, [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_bersamin.pdf Bersamin], Del Castillo, [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_perez.pdf Perez], De Castro, [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_mendoza.pdf Mendoza] and Perlas-Bernabe

|dissenting = De facto Chief Justice [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_sereno.pdf Sereno] and Justices [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_carpio.pdf Carpio], [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_leonen.pdf Leonen], Jardeleza and [http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2016/november2016/225973_caguioa.pdf Caguioa]

|concur/dissent =

|prior actions =

|appealed from =

|appealed to =

|subsequent actions =

|related actions =

|QuestionsPresented = Constitutional validity of the interment of the remains of President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani

|opinions =

|keywords =

|italic title = no

}}

Marcos was originally scheduled to be buried on September 13 then October 18 after the oral arguments on petitions to stop the burial.{{cite news|title=SC: Verdict on Marcos burial on hold until November 8|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/149502-supreme-court-extends-hold-order-marcos-burial|work=Rappler}}{{cite news|title=SC extends order putting Marcos burial on hold|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/145496-sc-sqa-hero-burial-ferdinand-marcos-october-18|work=Rappler}} Eventually, on November 8, the Supreme Court of the Philippines allowed Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani with the votes of 9–5, with one abstention{{cite news|title=Supreme Court allows hero's burial for Marcos|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/149496-supreme-court-decision-bury-marcos-libingan-bayani|work=Rappler}}{{cite news|title=SC 'allows Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani'|url=http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/08/sc-allows-marcos-burial-at-the-libingan-ng-mga-bayani/|work=Manila Bulletin}} dismissing the status quo ante imposed to block attempts to bury Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The concurring judges said that the Supreme Court cannot decide on the matter since it is a political question which was deemed not justiciable. They argue that President Duterte did not abuse his discretion when he allowed the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. It was noted that the petitioners failed to specify a specific law that was allegedly violated by proceeding the burial.{{cite news|work=ABS-CBN News|title=SC media briefer on Marcos burial decision|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/11/08/16/read-sc-media-briefer-on-marcos-burial-decision|access-date=November 12, 2016|agency=ABS-CBN News|date=November 8, 2016}}

The majority of the judges disagreed with the dissenting opinion that Marcos is disqualified to be buried at the said site due to Marcos' ouster following the People Power Revolution, which the dissenters consider as an act of Marcos being dishonorably discharged. It was noted that while Marcos was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the position is not a military position and the particular clause in the 1987 Constitution which gave the designation to Marcos only enshrines the principle of supremacy of civilian authority over the military. It was concluded that Marcos could not be prosecuted before the court martial therefore he could not be "dishonorably discharged, reverted or separated" under the AFP Regulations G 161–1375. Marcos ouster through the People Power Revolution is judged to be extra-constitutional and direct sovereign act of the people which was concluded to be outside the scope of the court. Marcos was also found not to have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude and court cases cited by the petitioners abroad were decided to have no bearing due to the cases being civil in nature.

It was added that it's up to the people to decide on the matter. The concurring judges also clarified that the court is exercising judicial restraint on an issue they say is "truly political in nature" and that the resulting stigma of Ferdinand Marcos' martial law regime will "not be forgotten by the Filipino people" and Marcos' burial at the cemetery "will not rewrite history".

De facto Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said that the burial disregards both international and domestic laws with regards to giving justice to victims of human rights abuses during Marcos' term. The Philippine government was noted to have an obligation to provide compensations to the victims, both monetary and non-monetary, the latter of which includes symbolic reparation. The burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was deemed by the dissenters as contrary to symbolic reparation entitled to the victims. By allowing the burial, President Duterte was "encouraging impunity". Marcos was described as "a dictator forced out of office and into exile after causing twenty years of political, economic, and social havoc in the country".

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio argued that Marcos' ouster following the People Power Revolution disqualified him from being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani even if the claim of him being awarded the Medal of Valor is indisputable since he was deposed by the "sovereign action of the people", which was described as "the strongest form of dishonorable discharge from office".

Following the Supreme Court decision, preparations for the burial commenced. Ilocos Norte Governor and daughter of Ferdinand Marcos, Imee Marcos said that the burial will be done with "simple rites like an ordinary soldier", and insisted that the event will not be a state funeral but a "funeral for a soldier" which she said her father wished for. She also added that the family was willing to airlift the former President's remains from Batac to Fort Bonifacio.{{cite news|last1=Kabiling|first1=Genalyn|last2=Lazaro|first2=Freddie|title=FM to have a simple soldier's burial – Governor Imee|url=http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/10/fm-to-have-a-simple-soldiers-burial-governor-imee/|access-date=November 10, 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|date=November 10, 2016}}

Santa Monica Church in Sarrat, the Immaculate Conception Church in Batac, and the Saint Augustine Church in Paoay were earlier prepared for the wake for former President Marcos before the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

File:2671Taguig City Landmarks 18.jpg

The Philippine National Police were informed on the night of November 17, 2016, that the burial will take place the day after.{{cite news|title=Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani today|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/152813-ferdinand-marcos-heroes-burial|access-date=November 18, 2016|work=Rappler|date=November 18, 2016}} The police confirmed the scheduled burial in the morning of November 18.{{cite news|last1=Aurelio|first1=Julie|last2=De Jesus|first2=Julliane Love|last3=Sabillo|first3=Kristine Angeli|title=PNP confirms Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani today|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/845387/pnp-confirms-marcos-burial-at-libingan-ng-mga-bayani-today|access-date=November 18, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=November 18, 2016}} The November 18 burial was scheduled to take place at noon.

The remains of Ferdinand Marcos were airlifted from Ilocos Norte at 9:00 a.m. and were brought to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Metro Manila. Marcos was then buried in his grave at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in a burial ceremony closed to the public. Marcos' wife Imelda Marcos and his children were in attendance, as well as the late president's only living sibling at the time, Fortuna Marcos-Barba.{{cite news|last1=Guinto|first1=Joel|title=Late dictator Marcos buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/18/16/late-dictator-marcos-buried-at-libingan-ng-mga-bayani|access-date=November 18, 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|date=November 18, 2016}} About a hundred were in attendance including personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and reportedly Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa. Military honors were given including a 21-gun salute during the rites.{{cite news|last1=Delavin|first1=Imee Charlee|title=Marcos confidentially buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=marcos-confidentially-buriedbrat-heroes-cemetery&id=136601|access-date=November 19, 2016|work=BusinessWorld|date=November 19, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003033127/http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=marcos-confidentially-buriedbrat-heroes-cemetery&id=136601|url-status=dead}}

There was no public announcement of the burial plan, and the public only became aware of the plan shortly before the burial. The Marcos family requested the government to conduct the burial in private, and confidentially. A budget was allocated by the government on the burial and the exceeding budget reportedly will be shouldered by the Marcoses. No exact figures regarding the budget allocated for the burial rites were disclosed.

Ferdinand Marcos was buried in a marble finished tomb with a cauldron that has a flame burning inside.

A poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in March 2011 showed that opinion is split.{{cite news |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/216523/news/nation/sws-pinoys-divided-on-marcos-burial-issue |title=SWS: Pinoys divided on Marcos burial issue |date=March 30, 2011 |work=GMA News}} The same trend appears in a follow-up poll by SWS in February 2016. However, the audience of the 2016 poll was validated voters, as opposed to anyone aged 18 years and above (as was the case in the 2011 poll).

File:0040jfVigils demonstrations Media coverages Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Burial Cases Judgmentfvf 02.jpg

On July 17, 2016, a group of people participated in a protest run around the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City led by Fr. Robert Reyes.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/796654/marcos-burial-as-a-hero-a-terrible-insult-to-history "'Marcos' burial as a hero a terrible insult to history'"]. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Reyes said, "whom, in the minds of martial law victims, is a traitor and dictator, is a terrible insult to history and the country itself." About 2,000 people protested against the burial plans, saying that Marcos was not a hero; organizers clarified that the protests were not against the Duterte administration itself, but were targeted towards the burial plan.{{cite news|title=Marcos 'hero's burial plan prompts Philippines protests|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/marcos-hero-burial-plan-sparks-philippines-protests-160814102232553.html|access-date=August 15, 2016|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=August 15, 2016}} An initiative called Bawat Bato ({{literal translation|For each stone}}) was launched, urging those who oppose the plan to dump stones with names of victims of abuses during the Martial Law era of Ferdinand Marcos or a personal message at the proposed site of the burial of Marcos within the Libingan ng mga Bayani.{{cite news|last1=Mateo|first1=Janvic|title=Rock against Marcos: Group protests Libingan burial|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/06/29/1597750/rock-against-marcos-group-protests-libingan-burial|access-date=August 15, 2016|work=The Philippine Star|date=June 29, 2016}} On September 30, Ateneo de Manila University wrote a memorandum, stating that the students should wear black T-shirts on UAAP Season 79 to protest the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.{{cite news|title=Ateneo, La Salle community asked to wear black in basketball match|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/30/16/ateneo-la-salle-community-asked-to-wear-black-in-basketball-match|work=ABS-CBN News}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20170814134343/http://www.ateneo.edu/ls/news/solidarity-memo-community-re-oct-2-2016-ateneo-la-salle-game SOLIDARITY MEMO TO THE COMMUNITY RE: THE OCT. 2, 2016 ATENEO-LA SALLE GAME]. Published by Ateneo de Manila University. Archived from the [http://www.ateneo.edu/ls/news/solidarity-memo-community-re-oct-2-2016-ateneo-la-salle-game original]

On November 6, Former President Benigno Aquino III described the burial as a "desecration" of the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The next day, Aquino briefly joined the crowd at the Luneta for the "Pray for 8" event, a prayer rally calling at least eight justices of the Supreme Court to vote against the interment of Marcos.{{cite news|title=Aquino: Burial for Marcos a 'desecration' of Libingan|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/841712/aquino-burial-for-marcos-a-desecration-of-libingan|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=November 7, 2016}} Former DILG secretary Mar Roxas and senator Francis Pangilinan later joined the group. On November 11, the martial law victims filed a temporary injunction against the burial before the Supreme Court.{{cite news|title=Martial Law victims file petition to suspend Marcos' burial at LNMB|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/12/16/martial-law-victims-file-petition-to-suspend-marcos-burial-at-lnmb|work=ABS-CBN News}} Various groups and sectors also joined the rally, protesting the burial. On November 12, hundreds of people, protesting the burial, participated in the run at the University of the Philippines Diliman.{{cite news|title=Hundreds join anti-Marcos burial run in UP|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/588628/news/nation/hundreds-join-anti-marcos-burial-run-in-up|work=GMA News}} Lawyers and law students wore black T-shirts November 13 and rallied in front of the University of Santo Tomas where the bar exams held.{{cite news|title=Lawyers wear black in protest vs. Marcos burial|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/13/lawyers-wear-black-protest-ferdinand-marcos-libingan-ng-mga-bayani.html|work=CNN Philippines|access-date=November 15, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116015535/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/13/lawyers-wear-black-protest-ferdinand-marcos-libingan-ng-mga-bayani.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Lawyers, rights advocates mourn Marcos burial at Bar exams|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/13/16/lawyers-rights-advocates-mourn-marcos-burial-at-bar-exams|work=ABS-CBN News}}{{cite news|title=Militant lawyers protest SC ruling on Marcos burial|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/843944/militant-lawyers-protest-sc-ruling-on-marcos-burial|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) called on November 14 for widespread demonstrations across the country, hoping to discourage President Rodrigo Duterte from proceeding the burial.{{cite news|title=Bayan calls for massive protests to dissuade Duterte from allowing Marcos burial at Libingan|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/article/134289/bayan-calls-for-massive-protests-to-dissuade-duterte-from-allowing-marcos-burial-at-libingan|work=News5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115113441/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/134289/bayan-calls-for-massive-protests-to-dissuade-duterte-from-allowing-marcos-burial-at-libingan|archive-date=November 15, 2016}} On November 16, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Council of the Laity of the Philippines) calls the planned hero's burial of Marcos "barefaced disrespect".{{cite news|title=Catholic council hits Marcos burial: 'Barefaced disrespect'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/152609-catholic-lay-council-marcos-burial-disrespect|work=Rappler}}

In Cebu City, a day before the burial, an effigy of Marcos, the same look as he kept in a refrigerated mausoleum, was displayed in a garbage cart, deserving to put as a garbage said by at least 500 members of militant groups.{{cite news|title=In Cebu City, it's burial in a garbage dump for 'Ferdinand Marcos'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/844939/in-cebu-city-its-burial-in-a-garbage-dump-for-ferdinand-marcos|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} Retired Judge Mienrado Paredes, who is among the person jailed during the martial law, said that "the real heroes are the people. Marcos was garbage in history. He is not a hero."{{refn|"We will repeat that—they are on the wrong side of history," he said. "Ang tinuod nga bayani ang mga tawo ... So basura siya (Marcos) sa kasaysayan. Dili siya bayani (The real heroes are the people. Marcos was garbage in history. He is not a hero)."}}

On August 8, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 86 which opposed the planned burial for former President Ferdinand Marcos, who ran the country as a dictator.{{cite news |last1=Elemia |first1=Camille |title=Senate rejects resolution vs Marcos hero's burial |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/152354-senate-rejects-resolution-marcos-hero-burial/ |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=RAPPLER |date=14 November 2016}} On November 14, the Senate voted on the resolution, a yes vote is to block Marcos burial while a no vote means to allow Marcos to be buried. 20 senators were present to vote, with 11 needed to get a majority regardless of abstensions. The 8 senators voted on the resolution to block Marcos Burial were Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, Kiko Pangilinan, Leila de Lima, Grace Poe, Bam Aquino, and Joel Villanueva. The 6 senators who voted against blocking marcos burial were Senator Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, and Cynthia Villar. 6 senators who abstained were Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Chiz Escudero, Win Gatchalian, Ralph Recto, and Migz Zubiri. 4 senators who were not present were Alan Peter Cayetano, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Loren Legarda, and Antonio Trillanes.

With 8 out of 11 yes votes needed to pass, the resolution is denied.{{cite news |last1=Ager |first1=Maila |title=Senate resolution vs Marcos burial fails approval |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/844200/senate-reso-expressing-sense-vs-marcos-burial-fails-approval |work=INQUIRER.net |date=14 November 2016 |language=en}}

On November 18, the day of Marcos burial, various groups gathered in some places. Among those who gathered to oppose the burial was a group of youth. The League of Filipino Students described the transfer of Marcos remains for the eventually successful burial the former president as being done like "a thief in the night." They also criticized the government's involvement in the burial of the former president which they describe as a "fascist dictator".

Vice President Robredo expressed disappointment stating that "like a thief in the night, the Marcos family deliberately hid the information of burying former President Marcos today from the Filipino people."{{cite news|title='From hidden wealth to hidden burial: Marcoses disrespecting law'—Leni|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/845427/from-hidden-wealth-to-hidden-burial-marcoses-disrespecting-law-leni|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} Students from various universities and other groups joined the protest held across the country including Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao City, etc.{{cite news|title=Protests swell nationwide vs. Marcos burial|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/589380/news/nation/protests-swell-nationwide-vs-marcos-burial|work=GMA News}} Senator Franklin Drilon gave a statement about the burial, "like what Marcos did for 21 years, he caught us off-guard like a thief in the night. His burial is anything but noble. Even in death, he is a thief."{{cite news|title=Drilon on Marcos burial: A thief even in death|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/589352/news/nation/drilon-on-marcos-burial-a-thief-even-in-death|work=GMA News}} Senator Risa Hontiveros, who opposed the burial, said that "no hero's burial can erase the historical fact of Marcos' atrocities." Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the burial was a "sad development." Former President Fidel Ramos criticized the burial of the late president, describing it as "a step backward".{{cite news|work=ABS-CBN News|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/21/16/ramos-marcos-burial-a-step-backwards-for-duterte-govt|title=Ramos: Marcos burial a 'step backwards' for Duterte gov't|first=Dharel |last=Placido}}{{cite news|work=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/22/1646177/fvr-duterte-big-disappointment-peru|title=FVR: Duterte a big disappointment in Peru|first=Perseus Echeminada and Alexis|last=Romero}}

On November 25, 2016, the day called by the protestors "National Day of Unity and Rage" and "Black Friday", various groups in the country held mass demonstrations in the afternoon.{{cite news|title=Schedule: November 25 rallies vs Marcos|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/153258-november-25-luneta-grand-rally|work=Rappler}} Left-leaning groups called on President Duterte to end his alliance with Marcoses.{{cite news|title=Luneta protesters to Duterte: End alliance with Marcos family|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/153622-luneta-november-25-duterte-end-alliance-marcos|work=Rappler}} Anti-Marcos protestors and Marcos loyalists started a debate on the issue after the two sides made an encounter.{{cite news|title=Anti-, pro-Marcos groups face off for 'debate' at Luneta|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/590238/news/nation/anti-pro-marcos-groups-face-off-for-debate-at-luneta|work=GMA News}}

Maria Serena Diokno, chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) submitted her resignation on November 29, 2016, in protest of the Marcos burial. She said that the burial "erases the memory of the lives lost and destroyed" during the Ferdinand Marcos administration and that it "mocks the collective action the Filipinos" took to remove Marcos from his post as president. She added that Duterte could have taken a "higher ground" by disallowing the burial despite the Supreme Court decision not to stop the then burial plan. She also praised the youth who expressed their opposition to the burial which she described as an act "in defense of History" and said she would personally join mass demonstrations scheduled on November 30, 2016. Her resignation was effective on December 1, 2016.{{cite news |last1=Javier |first1=Kristian |date=November 29, 2016 |title=Diokno resigns as NHCP chair over Marcos burial |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/29/1648635/diokno-resigns-nhcp-chair-over-marcos-burial |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129151322/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/29/1648635/diokno-resigns-nhcp-chair-over-marcos-burial |archive-date=November 29, 2016 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |work=The Philippine Star}}

Thousands of protesters gathered again on November 30, Bonifacio Day, at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.{{cite news|title=Thousands return to EDSA to protest Marcos hero's burial|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/590762/news/nation/thousands-return-to-edsa-to-protest-marcos-hero-s-burial|work=GMA News}}{{cite news|title=Anti-Marcos groups hold protests on Bonifacio Day|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/30/Anti-Marcos-protests-Bonifacio-Day.html|work=CNN Philippines|access-date=December 3, 2016|archive-date=December 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202131742/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/30/Anti-Marcos-protests-Bonifacio-Day.html|url-status=dead}} On December 10, about 11,000 protesters marched on the streets in Capiz, Iloilo, Bacolod, Aklan, and Cebu, commemorating Human Rights Day.{{cite news|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|title=11K Visayas protesters decry Marcos burial, EJKs on Human Rights Day|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/852443/11k-visayas-protesters-decry-marcos-burial-ejks-on-human-rights-day|date=December 10, 2016}} On the night of December 15, about 150 members of a group called Coalition against Marcos Burial gathered at the People Power Monument to attend the mass.{{cite news|title=Grupong Tutol sa Paglibing kay Marcos sa LNMB, Nagsimba sa Anticipated Misa de Gallo|language=fil|trans-title=Group opposing the burial of Marcos at the LNMB, attended the anticipated Misa de Gallo (Simbang Gabi)|url=http://news5.com.ph/videos/14098001C36C4D8|work=InterAksyon}} Thousands of people also celebrated the 31st anniversary of 1986 People Power Revolution on February 25, 2017, with protests.{{cite news|title=Youth group marks EDSA-1's 31st year at People Power Monument|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/600986/news/metro/youth-group-marks-edsa-1-s-31st-year-at-people-power-monument-nbsp|work=GMA News}}

2013–2017 Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a protégé of late Manila Archbishop Jaime Sin during EDSA 1986, said through text to Rappler, on the same day, that he is saddened with the decision and "the burial is an insult to the EDSA spirit".{{cite news|title=Cardinal Sin's protegé on Marcos burial: 'An insult'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/151738-archbishop-villegas-marcos-burial-insult-edsa|work=Rappler}} Villegas also stated that he backed the anti-Marcos protests.{{cite news |url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/30/Villegas-backs-anti-Marcos-protesters.html |title=Archbishop gives blessing to anti-Marcos protesters |work=CNN Philippines |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731030305/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/11/30/Villegas-backs-anti-Marcos-protesters.html |url-status=dead }}

Unlike Villegas, then-Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, who was still the sitting Lipa Archbishop, called on Filipinos for prayers and forgiveness for the Marcos family, encouraging pro and anti-Marcos groups to pray for Marcos' soul, while condemning groups calling for exhumation with the words "give the dead peace, respect Marcos' body".{{cite news|last=Macairan |first=Evelyn |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/20/1645587/respect-marcos-body-bishop-tells-public |title=Respect Marcos' body, bishop tells public | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star |work=The Philippine Star|date=November 20, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/18/16/bishop-calls-for-respect-prayers-for-marcos |title=Bishop calls for respect, prayers for Marcos|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=August 8, 2017}}

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle remained silent on the burial and instead chose to offer prayers for the Marcos family and the Filipinos.{{cite news|url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/100044/silence-cardinal-tagle |title=The silence of Cardinal Tagle | Inquirer Opinion |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=August 8, 2017}} The late Leopoldo S. Tumulak of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines echoed the same sentiments of Arguelles.

Since the burial, some individuals and groups called for the exhumation of Marcos' remains at the cemetery.{{cite news |last1=Lagrimas |first1=Nicole-Anne C. |title=Group renews call for removal of Marcos remains from ‘Libingan’ |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/633643/group-renews-call-for-removal-of-marcos-remains-from-libingan/story/ |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=GMA News Online |date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829025919/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/633643/group-renews-call-for-removal-of-marcos-remains-from-libingan/story/ |archive-date=29 August 2024 |language=en}} Among them were Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, who in 2016 said "whatever was buried there" should be exhumed to determine if the remains were Marcos' "mortal remains" and not a wax replica.{{cite news |last1=Echeminada |first1=Perseus |last2=Villanueva |first2=Rhodina |last3=Nilles |first3=Giovanni |last4=Punay |first4=Edu |last5=Jaymalin |first5=Mayen |title=‘Exhume whatever was buried in Libingan’ |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/22/1644415/exhume-whatever-was-buried-libingan |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=November 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923130532/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/22/1644415/exhume-whatever-was-buried-libingan |archive-date=September 23, 2018}} In 2018, the Supreme Court rejected a petition to have the remains exhumed, although activists called anew to remove the remains from the cemetery following Imelda Marcos' conviction of graft.{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Christian V. |title=Activists want Ferdinand Marcos out of heroes’ plot after Imelda conviction |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/12/18/activists-want-ferdinand-marcos-out-of-heroes-plot-after-imelda-conviction |access-date=29 August 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=November 12, 2018}}

• Unexplained wealth of the Marcos family
• Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship

• {{commons category-inline}}

{{reflist}}

{{The Marcoses}}

{{Rodrigo Duterte}}

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