Article by:
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday he remains grateful for the burial of his father at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) during the watch of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but this does not justify ignoring allegations of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Malacañang said Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement after Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte claimed the administration had chosen “political vengeance over gratitude” following the arrest of the former president.
In a press briefing, Castro said that Marcos acknowledged Duterte’s goodwill in facilitating the interment of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“Si Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay nagpapasalamat sa ginawa ni dating Pangulong Duterte patungkol po rito (President Marcos Jr. is grateful to former president Duterte for this),” she said.
She, however, stressed that gratitude should not mean turning a blind eye to serious allegations.
“Pero ang pagtanaw ng utang na loob ay hindi naman po kinakailangang i-tolerate at tulugan ang anumang akusasyon ng kriminalidad at takpan ang mata sa maaaring nadulot ng karumal-dumal na patayan ng EJK (Showing gratitude does not mean tolerating accusations of crime or ignoring the gruesome killings associated with EJKs),” she said.
Castro also emphasized that the burial of Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was in accordance with the law and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Responding to Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that Filipinos remain angry over her father’s arrest, Castro said it cannot be assumed that all Filipinos share the same sentiment.
Duterte’s arrest, she said, was part of the process that could finally bring justice not only to the victims of alleged EJKs but also to the former president himself.
She added that many of the complaints were filed by Filipinos who sought recourse before the International Criminal Court, believing they had not received justice during Duterte’s watch.
“Sa parte po ng mga tao na nagsusulong ng human rights at lumalaban sa mga karumal-dumal na pagpatay na bunga ng EJK at war on drugs ni dating Pangulong Duterte, hindi naman sila galit at sila ay nagpupunyagi (For those who advocate for human rights and continue to fight against the killings linked to the war on drugs launched by former president Duterte, they are not angry. They are persevering),” Castro said.
On March 12, 2025, Duterte was surrendered to the custody of the ICC by Philippine authorities, acting on the arrest warrant issued by the international court for the alleged crimes against humanity he committed when he launched his drug war. (PNA)
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