The AFP admitted that the Marcoses requested them to fly the remains of Marcos to the LNMB but the family will pay for all the expenses.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted that they were requested by the Marcoses to transport the remains of the late former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos to its final resting place with the assurance that the expenses will be paid for his family.
The remains of Marcos were transported by air from Laoag City in Ilocos Norte going to Manila for his burial on Friday high noon, using choppers of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
AFP spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said the wooden coffin of Marcos was flown before nine in the morning using Bel 412 choppers.
It landed at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) past 11 in the morning where military men await.
While the AFP chopper was used to fly the remains of the late former strongman, the transport expenses would be shouldered by the Marcos family.
According to Padilla, it was requested from the AFp to be brought by a helicopter of the military because there is no available commercial airlift that could provide the service.
“The expenses will be paid for the Marcoses”, Brigadier General Padilla said.
The AFP spokesman added that Marcos was “given appropriate honors” where he was put on a horse-drawn carrier and was carried by by military pallbearers to his spot in the Libingan ng mga Bayani – a section of the Heroes’ Cemetery reserved for former presidents.
He was also given a 21-gun salute as the remains were carried to the entombment area and before it was lowered to the place, the last taps and the volley of fire were provided.
According to Padilla, the said ceremony is a final salute given to any soldier who is laid to rest.
Former President Marcos was buried in what is called a “sneaky ceremony” that shocked the whole country on November 18, Friday high noon, 27 years after he died.
His remains was in his hometown Ilocos Norte since 1993, four years after he died in Hawaii in 1989.