The military said they received a very short notice to prepare for the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who was buried in secret rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Friday noon.

“We were given a very short notice, at exactly 5 o’clock yesterday. The flurry of activities went on immediately after the initial notice came,” Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters on Friday at Villamor Air Base.

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Marcos was buried 27 years after his death on Friday, despite protests from human rights groups and reconsideration pleas at the Supreme Court against his burial.

Padilla said they did not announce the burial to the public and the media as requested by the Marcos family to keep the ceremony private.

“There was no announcement regarding this interment in deference to the desire of the family. Kaya nila kami nila binigyan ng short notice kasi (That’s why they gave us a short notice because) it was part of their request to do this in private…so in keeping with their wishes which we all comply with even if it’s a request made by an ordinary soldier we did our part,” he said.

The spokesperson explained that the coordination for the burial started after the Supreme Court came out with a decision early this month to allow the burial of the former President.

“Noong natapos po at nagkaron na po ng desisyon ang Supreme Court nagkaroon po ng inisyal na abiso ang pamilyang Marcos matapos silang magsabi at makakuha ng abiso sa ating mahal na Pangulo… Matapos maglabas ng desisyon ang Supreme Court (When the Supreme Court’s ruling came out, the Marcos family gave an initial notice after receiving a directive from our dear President… After the Supreme Court gave its decision), the Armed Forces already received instruction on a directive from the Department of the National Defense informing us and directing the Armed Forces to provide burial services,” Padilla said. RAM/rga

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