Ba’t ngayon lang? Pres Duterte said Marcos’ military record should’ve been questioned when he was alive

President Rodrigo Duterte is bent on proceeding with the transfer of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ remains to the Libingan ng mga Bayani even if critics of the burial say he doesn’t deserve it due to his dubious military record.

Speaking to reporters at the Bahay Pangarap Tuesday (Nov. 15), Duterte said the law is clear that former soldiers and Presidents— titles which Marcos had— deserve a place at the hero’s cemetery.

“Sundalo naging presidente. Presidente, hindi sundalo. E may medalya siya (Marcos) tapos sundalo siya. Ipinakita niyang registered siya sa isang guerilla front that is recognized by the US Army to be a guerilla front in fighting the Japanese. Who am I now to deny that, rebuke it?” Duterte asked.

The President then wondered why doubts are being cast over Marcos’ military record now, when he’s already dead.

“At bakit hindi yan kinuwestyon yan noong buhay pa siya? Sana noon palang buhay pa sinabi na yan kay Marcos na ‘yang medalya mo peke lahat yan. Eh ngayon patay na yung tao hindi makasagot. Why would I take it na hindi siya sundalo?” he said.

Among the entities which have opposed the hero’s burial for Marcos is the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which revealed that the late dictator lied about receiving three military medals and was never recognized as the leader of the guerrilla unit which he claimed to have headed.

sourcePOLITIKO