TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Several incumbent and former politicians from the provinces dubbed as “Solid North” shared their reactions on the recent decision of the Supreme Court allowing the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Jr in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).
Solid North consist of the provinces in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos, a key support group of the Marcos.
In a text message, Isabela Vice Governor Tonypet Albano said the he hopes that SC’s decision will “closure to the issue.”
“I welcome the decision of the burial of Pres. Marcos in Libingan ng mga Bayani, This will hopefully put a closure to the issue so we can now move on to solving the pressing issues and problems in our society. Whether you are for the burial or against, it is time to move on and come together as a people and close this chapter,” Albano said.
Albano vocally expressed his support to Marcos’ son and namesake, Bongbong Marcos, during the 2016 elections.
Former Pangasinan representative Mark Cojuangco also favored the High Court’s decision.
“I am glad that closure is finally coming to this issue. Three decades of anger and counter anger is enough,” Cojuangco told Forum in a text message.
Cojuangco added that the Marcos’ pronouncement to abide to whatever the SC will decide on should be “an example for us all.”
Iguig town, Cagayan Mayor Ferdinand Trinidad also approved the decision.
“Dapat lang na ilibing na siya sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. For me, late President Ferdinand Marcos is the best president we ever had so deserves to be given hero’s burial sa libingan ng mga bayani,” Trinidad said.
For former Buguey, Cagayan mayor and defeated vcie gubernatorial bet during th 2016 elections Ignacio Taruc, Marcos has no place in the LNMB.
“I am an Ilocano and I have nothing against Marcos. But the people of the Philippines ousted Marcos through a peaceful revolution and they call him tyrant. How can he be buried in the “libingan” ng mga bayani,” Taruc said.
