MANILA, Nov. 10 (PNA) — The Philippine Army is ready to provide the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos with military honors befitting his rank as former head of state once the date for his interment at the “Libingan Ng Mga Bayani” (LNMB) in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig is finalized.
“We will provide former president Marcos military honors fitting (for) a president of our country. He will be given arrival honors by Army brigade-sized honor guard when his remains enter the LNMB,” Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesperson, said in an interview with PNA on Thursday.
“He will also be given a 21-gun salute,” he added.
The former president’s casket will be carried by pall bearers, consisting of active-duty senior sergeants and generals, on his final resting place at the LNMB, the spokesperson added.
As stated in a directive issued last August, the Army was instructed to provide military honors befitting a former president. This includes vigil, bugler, drummer, firing party, military host, pallbearers, escort and transportation, and arrival and departure honors, Hao said.
The burial site of the former president is now being prepared at the 100-square meter plot former presidents are allotted in the LNMB’s 5,000 square meter Presidential Section.
Three Philippine presidents are buried at the heroes’ cemetery — Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal and Elpidio Quirino.
Hao said the Presidential Section still has room for 46 more. (PNA)