Former President Joseph Estrada allowed Hero’s Burial for Marcos in 1998
ALAM NYO BA na isang buwan mula nang pagkapanalo ni dating Pangulong Joseph “Erap” Estrada noong May 1998 election at kahit wala pang inauguration ay sumulat na siya sa pamilyang Marcos upang pahintulutan na mailibing na si dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos sa Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB).
Ngunit di ito nangyari dahil inalmahan ito ni dating Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos hanggang napatalsik si Erap noong January 20, 2001.
Heto ang kanyang liham noong June 21, 1998.
Office of the Vice President
PICC, Manila
June 21, 1998
Dear Mrs. Marcos,
I am writing you and your heirs concerning the burial of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. I have decided to grant permission, upon may assumption to office, for his remains to be interred at the military cemetery in Fort Bonifacio. My motivation is simple, I hope that by finally laying to rest his mortal remains, the decade-long turmoil over the issue will subside. We can then face our uncertain future as a united nation.
I am confident we can agree that it is in everyone’s interest to keep the funeral rites as simple and solemn as possible. I have therefore decided to state the condition under which my agreement to the burial would be forthcoming:
- The remains will be ferried to Villamor Air Base and forthwith brought to the cemetery for burial. There shall be no stops and no organized groups shall be allowed allong the route to the cemetery.
- The funeral shall be limited to the immediate Marcos family of not more than fifty (50) persons.
- The rites should be strictly religious in nature; no political statements shall be made.
These are my general conditions. I have instructed my Defense Secretary-designate, Sen. Orlando Mercado to meet with you or your representatives to discuss our details.
I hope that I can count on your understanding and cooperation in this regard.
Very truly yours,
Joseph Ejercito Estrada