In fact, Justice Peralta’s recitation of the facts of the case belies his woefully myopic understanding of the Court’s function. “In the campaign period for the 2016 Presidential Election, then candidate Rodrigo R. Duterte (Duterte) publicly announced that he would allow the burial of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (Marcos) at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB). He won the May 9, 2016 election, garnering 16,601,997 votes.†My translation: Duterte made known his intention to give Marcos an honorable burial during the campaign. He has won the presidency. Ergo, the people’s votes gave him the mandate to proceed. If that’s not interpreting electoral outcomes, I don’t know what it is.
The pretense at legal detachment is palpable throughout this shabbily written ponencia. But, the bias stands out. Example: “For his alleged human rights abuses and corrupt practices, we may disregard Marcos as a President and Commander-in-Chief, but we cannot deny him the right to be acknowledged based on other positions he held or the awards he received.†The word “alleged†is misplaced if the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, which has questioned the authenticity of the Marcos war medals, is to be believed. It should come before “awards†rather than before “human rights abuses and corrupt practices.â€
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