Three petitions challenging Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani was consolidated into one.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines immediately consolidated the three petitions filed to block the planned burial of Former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The petitions were filed by different groups of the victims of Martial law during the 20-year reign of Marcos.
Citing time constraints, the SC decided to consolidate the three cases against the burial of Marcos.
In the resolution issued by the Supreme Court en banc on Friday, August 19, the petitions filed by former Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Neri Colmenares, Grupo ni Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and kins of the Martial law victims or the so-called Desaparacidos, and the last petition filed just on Friday morning by former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Etta Rosales, were rolled into one.
Ibarra Gutierrez, lawyer of the 14 petitioners belonging to the Coalition Against Marcos Burial, said the latest petition raises new issues not discussed by the two cases filed before the Supreme Court earlier this week.
Government respondents include Executive Secretary Salvador S. Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Ernesto Enriquez, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina (retired).
The heirs of Marcos were represented by former first lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda R. Marcos.
The high court has ordered all the petitioners to attend the preliminary conference set on August 22, Monday afternoon.
The Court ordered the respondents to submit their comment to the second petition by Monday, August 22.
The petitioners are also directed to attend to the oral arguments are on Wednesday, August 24, at the New Session Hall of SC.
Shall the Marcos burial pursue, the gates of the Libingan ng mga Bayani will be opened for him on September 18.