Ilocanos exult on MCoy burial

LAOAG CITY, November 9 (PIA) – People in Ilocos Norte, home province of the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos were jubilant with the Nov. 8 decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing the burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB). 

Netizens in Ilocos Norte kept posting positive statements in social media using the popularized hashtags #ilibingna, #NoToHate, #YesToHealing, and #MoveOn, among others.

Lawyer Brian Jay Corpuz in his Facebook post said that the SC has upheld the ‘rule of law’ in settling the issues about the Marcos’ burial.

“The Supreme Court  operates on the sphere of law. They are not policy makers, not philosophers of what the law could do, not to expand the moral or ethical sides of the law,” Corpuz said.

He also commended the nine justices who voted in favour of the burial of the late Ilocano president at the LNMB.

“Objectivity is the proper attitude in any political issue. Just like the recent SC decision on Marcos burial, it is overwhelming that the 9 Justices are correct.

Laoag City Councilor Rbee C. Ablan also shared the same joy, like the rest of the Ilocano community here, and noting that the SC’s decision is a proper application of the law.

Ablan also hopes that the SC will have the same ruling even if a motion for reconsideration will be filed by some petitioners.

Though Ilocanos were outspoken with their opinion in social media, people in Ilocos Norte are still in their usual daily routine. There were no celebrations or festive-formal happening.

Gov. Imee R. Marcos has earlier said in a television interview that the Marcos family is not asking for a grand and extravagant burial for her father but for the late president to finally be laid in the LNMB as the latter’s final wish.

The Marcos family is yet confirm when the exact date of the burial but former Sen. Bongbong Marcos said in an interview that preparations will continue now after it was being suspended following the issuance of the ante-order prohibition by the SC.   The then initial plan stated that the remains of Marcos currently at his mausoleum in Batac City will have its wake in three Ilocos Norte churches.

The churces are the Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat town where the late president was born, the Immaculate Conception Church in Marcos’ hometown in Batac City, and the St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. (Cherry Joy D. Garma/PIA-1, Ilocos Norte)