A SENATE resolution which sought to declare former President Ferdinand Marcos unfit for a hero’s burial was defeated at the Senate.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III declared the proposed resolution defeated when only eight of 20 senators voted “yes” to the proposal of Senator Riza Hontiveros and failed to get the required 11 votes.
Those who backed Hontiveros’ resolution were Senators Pimentel, Franklin Drilon, Grace Poe, Bam Aquino, Francisco Pimentel, Joel Villanueva and Leila de Lima.
The six who voted against were Senators Emmanuel Pacquiao, Vicente Sotto, Ping Lacson, Gringo Honasan, Cynthia Villar and Dick Gordon.
Meanwhile, those who abstained were Senators Ralph Recto, Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Miguel Zubiri, Francis Escudero and Nancy Binay.
In rejecting Hontiveros’ resolution, Escudero noted that after the lapse of 30 years, the Filipino people and country must move on. “Once and for all, let us concentrate on the Filipinos and not just one or two families.”
“We have debated the issue for the last 30 years. We have been divided between the Aquinos and the Marcoses. Enough already. We have to put it at rest so we can concentrate on the Filipinos,” Escudero said.
“My plea is for the rule of law. My plea is that we send the right message and the right message is for the people who are not in favor to speak up here and say, ‘We are against it.’ For those who are in favor, whatever they want to do. But, to vote as a Senate sends a very bad signal that the Supreme Court [SC] seems to be a Marcos court,” Gordon said as he explained why he voted against the adoption of the resolution.
Recto, Sotto and Lacson cited the SC ruling. “The Supreme Court had already ruled that it is legal to bury former President Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and said that there is no grave abuse of discretion. I respect the decision of the Supreme Court.”
