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MANILA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Preisdent Rodrigo Duterte told Filipinos on Friday to forgive ousted President Ferdinand Marcos whose remains were buried secretly at a heroes' cemetery in Manila.
Anti-Marcos Filipinos, including those who suffered in the days of Marcos administration, took to the streets as news of the secret burial rite came out.
"I would like to pray that everybody will find a space in his heart for forgiveness, and for those who have been somehow hurt or injured that they can take some other option to file a case," Duterte said upon his arrival in Lima, Peru to attend the APEC summit scheduled this weekend.
He also urged the people who fell victims to human rights abuses under Marcos to file a case against the Marcoses.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella also told reporters in Peru that Duterte also called on both the police and protesters to exercise maximum tolerance. He said Duterte has allowed the protesters to go ahead with their activities to air their grievances against the marcos burial.
"We understand that there is a segment of society against the burial at the heroes' cemetery. The President fully understands this and has allowed any form of mass action as long as it is legal, peaceful and in accordance with the law," Abella said.
Abella reiterated that the decision to bury Marcos is a personal decision of the Marcos family. Besides he said that the Supreme Court has already ruled that no law bars Marcoses from burying their dead in the hallowed ground of the cemetery.
He added, "The decision to bury the late president today is a personal decision of the Marcos family. We respect their choice of date for the interment."
After the burial rite, the Marcos family read a statement to the media thanking Duterte for allowing the burial.
Before the burial, Marcos remains was placed in the family's mausoleum in his home city of Batac in Ilocos Norte province north of Manila.
Marcos was elected in 1965, but declared martial law in 1972 and ruled the country with a heavy hand.
Millions of Filipinos took to the streets in February 1986, deposing Marcos. The Marcoses were forced to flee to Hawaii where Ferdinand Marcos died in 1989. His body was bought back to the Philippines in 1993.
The Marcos family has long lobbied for an honorable burial in the heroes' cemetery. But the anti-Marcos and human rights groups had vehemently opposed the plan. Enditem
