Baste to BBM: My father gave yours hero's burial

President Marcos was being ungrateful for allowing the International Criminal Court to arrest and send former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague to face ICC trial for crimes against humanity.

- EDITH REGALADO

This was according to Duterte's son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who reminded Marcos that it was the former president who allowed the elder Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the heroes' cemetery.

The mayor said his father's arrest has sparked outrage among the people.

“Marcos, you owe us a debt of gratitude. Your father was given a hero’s burial by my father but you let my father go to jail,” the younger Duterte said at a gathering of supporters for the 88th Araw ng Dabaw celebration last Sunday.

Sebastian lamented how his father had to dodge criticisms and opposition to his decision to bury the elder Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

He said the outpouring of support for his father was something the President would never experience.

Reacting to the mayor’s tirades, Malacañang said debt of gratitude must not stop the government from enforcing the law.

At a briefing yesterday, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the President had already expressed his gratitude to the former leader.

“As early as 2016, when President (Marcos) was still a senator – the President had already thanked the Supreme Court for ruling that his father should be buried at the heroes’ cemetery,” Castro said.

She said the President had already indicated that his “family will forever be thankful for this kind gesture” of the former president.

“But showing gratitude should not derail or betray the law and justice,” she said.