Exclusive by Raïssa Robles
I would not have believed it had I not seen the pictures.
Some very observant friends in social media called my attention to the fact that a photo of Ferdinand Marcos’ coffin being lowered into the ground at Libingan ng mga Bayani seemed to have a man inside the hole where his corpse was going to be interred.
How can a man fit inside the hole when the coffin is being lowered into the hole?, I asked myself.
Many of you must have attended funerals. Many of you must have seen that the hole cut into the ground is only enough to fit the coffin. And all around the hole is bare earth.
That’s not the case with the burial ground of Ferdinand Marcos.
And those in social media who called my attention were right.
There was a man in the hole underneath while the coffin was being lowered.
Not only that, the walls were made of concrete painted all white, and not bare earth. And the hole was large enough to fit four men and Marcos’ coffin.
In addition, there seems to be an underground corridor leading to the hole.
Look closely to the left in the photo below:
I wonder where that passageway leads to.
Does it lead to another secret chamber?
Does it exit somewhere else?
And who paid for this elaborate construction?
So when Gina Policarpio posted this on Twitter:
And Congressman Edcel Lagman rushed to the Supreme Court today with a request for the body to be exhumed and examined if it’s real or made of wax, I thought – no need to exhume. After all, the body is not really buried as in buried beneath the soil.
It’s merely secreted in a secret chamber underground.
That’s why Solicitor General Jose Calida’s supposition that it’s “inhuman” to exhume Marcos’remains does not apply in this case because there really is nothing to exhume or dig up.
The Supreme Court was had by the Marcoses. When majority of them ruled that there was no legal obstacle for Marcos’ remains to be buried, I bet they meant “buried” in the traditional sense.
Not like this.
♦ ♦ ♦
Strangely, I had predicted this five years ago when I wrote “President Marcos’ magic tomb”.
I wrote that –
Even if the Philippine government were to bury the long dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos with military honors, his corpse might not stay buried. Because the way you and I understand the word “buried” is not the way the widow Imelda Marcos understands it.
Imelda Marcos has in her possession an engineering design for a hydraulic and refrigeration system that would continue to preserve the dictator’s body from decomposing and – for viewing purposes – would raise and lower a granite slab covering his glass coffin.
I’m not pulling your leg. I recently confirmed from sources deep inside the Marcos camp that these engineering plans still exist and would have been implemented in 1998 if then President Fidel Ramos had not put a stop to it in the dying days of his administration.
Let me rewind my story back to the beginning.
Around this time 13* years ago, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on orders of Ramos’ Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat, assisted the Marcos family in preparing a “memorial” for the dead dictator at Libingan ng mga Bayani. Five truck-loads of ready-mix concrete were poured into a 100-square meter burial plot as part of the foundation for the hydraulic system. Site preparation alone cost P3 million. NOTE – in the present context, 13 years ago was 1998.)
The burial plot was to be tiled with thick slabs of adobe. Marcos’ glass coffin would be eased into a shallow hole and topped with black granite from Italy.
And sure enough, black granite tops Marcos’ burial chamber.
How do I know all these?
Because in June 1998 I was able to interview Normandy Canlas, the architect who had designed the hydraulic system. He told me the Marcos family wanted a way to be able to view the body from time to time. Canlas also told me that his original design included a refrigeration unit. He even speculated that –
The military (which runs the cemetery) won’t likely pay for that. Maybe they’ll put a meter….it will be costly.
Well, maybe that passageway is meant to lead to the refrigeration unit. If that is the case, then there must be another entrance/exit to that underground chamber in order to be able to maintain that refrigeration unit.
You can view my original article by clicking the link above.
There’s a problem, though.
Things did not go as planned for the Marcos family. First, the waiting time for them to execute this plan took 18 more years since the cement structure was built in Libingan in 1998 to receive Marcos’ remains. And second, the Marcoses either forgot “the body” or intentionally left the body that was in dsiplay at the Batac museum.
You know, that wax body which the mortician Frank Malabed insisted was real and not wax.
So, while the Marcoses were burying what they claimed was the real Marcos’ remains in Libingan last Friday, tourists on that very day in Batac were gawking at the same wax figure that had been lying there in a glass coffin for over two decades now. The Marcoses did not charge admission for people to stare at their father’s alleged remains. But the adjacent museum charged P50 per head.
No wonder Imee Marcos could not give a straight answer to news anchor Karen Davila when she was asked whether that body on display in Batac was real or made of wax.
If the Marcos family could lie to the nation for decades about that wax figure, think what else they were and are lying about. They could also be lying about that alleged Last Will and Testament of Marcos, which allegedly asked that he be buried in Libingan.
Curiously, Normandy Canlas told me in my interview with him in June 1998 that the family considered Libingan “a temporary burial site where he will be buried as a president and soldier. In a decade or so, he will be returned to Batac and buried alongside Doña Josefa, his mother.”
To prove their claim that Marcos wanted to buried among the soldiers (many of whom he had abused and exploited during Martial Law to keep himself in power), the Marcos family showed media a copy of Marcos’ Last Will and Testament dated 1982.
ABS-CBN quoted a family lawyer, Yvette Conventio-Leynes, as saying:
“Some people say kasi na yung ‘LNMB’ is ‘Libingan ni Marcos sa Batac.’ That’s why we researched in the archives of the family. That’s the very reason why the last will and testament for the executed sometime in 1982, just to support the wishes of President Marcos that he really wanted to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.”
The will is probably authentic and Marcos must have drawn it up when he became seriously ill.
However, Marcos’ loyal military aide Colonel Arturo Aruiza, disclosed in his book Ferdinand E. Marcos: Malacanang to Makiki, that Marcos had drawn up a will in June 1988 (page 437) in Hawaii. And as any lawyer – even the ones who had not taken the bar – will tell you, the latter will supersedes the earlier will.
The interesting thing about this June 1988 will is that it was drawn up by Marcos only weeks after his beloved mother died on May 4, 1988. See – Mother`s Funeral Awaits Marcos
The Marcoses should also release this will. Perhaps Marcos had changed his mind about his final resting place. Perhaps, as some had said, he had given instructions to be buried beside his beloved mom.
Because why else would Normandy Canlas tell me that the Marcos family considered Libingan “a temporary burial site where he will be buried as a president and soldier. In a decade or so, he will be returned to Batac and buried alongside Doña Josefa, his mother.”
Maybe that was really his dying wish. Marcos died the following year 1989.
Henpy says
Naku mga ingitera kayo ganyan kamahal ng pamilyang marcos si macoy kaya kahit patay na sinisiguro pa rin nila na walang makakagawa.ng masama sa mga labi niya yun.lang po yun
raissa says
Mahal si macoy o yung nakaw na yaman?
Maxima says
Hindi ako naiinggit na ilibing! Maski ginto pa ang coffin. Sa iyo na. Ikaw na Lang. Maski ginto pa ang lalagyan, uod pa rin ang mananaig at uubos sa katawan.
Marmee Cruz says
Are you serious? If safety and security were their concerns, he should have been buried in his homeland where he surely will be guarded by Macoy minions. And there is a clear violation of burial plots dimensions that should be thoroughly investigated.
But no, the despicable Macoy family just couldn’t help asserting their power through the current prez. Truly contemptible.
Just wondering what Dutz has next in store for the Filipino.
Sphinx says
You do not have an idea as to the area allocated for Presidents? Mag reasearch din, wag ipahalatang bitter Kay Marcos.
moonie says
10 meters by 10 meters was the allotment given to makoy, yan ang narinig ko sa bandila news. kaso, at gaya ni saddam hussien, makoy prefers to go underground too, at duon nagtago. kapag binaha, makoy would have to be fished out the way saddam husssien was taken out of the hole in the ground. still, we dont know kung tunay na makoy ang nailibing duon. baka singing tuna fish made in china, he, he, he.
wbar says
Bakit sila takot na may gumawa ng masama sa labi ni macoy? kasi maraming pagkaka UTANG.
PaparazziPH says
Why can’t this thief be buried just like any ordinary Filipino whether he be a “hero” or not? All other presidents from Presidents Quirino down to Garcia,etc., are all buried the traditional way. What makes this thief so special and different among all others and to have this special and elaborate crypt? Sick! This just shows how corrupt and sly the Marcos family really are. They can never be trusted.
BonaV says
They are using the body for their political interests.
Walang awa sa patay. Palagay ko hindi pa payapa ang kaluluwa ng namatay dahil patuloy pang ginamit.
rodezza says
at…..gagamitin. mukhang si apo naman masaya na tuloy tuloy ang kanilang Kasamaan eh. Ok lang yun. Rule in Peace sya, in EVILNESS pa rin. yuckkkk!
kalakala says
“Why can’t this thief be buried just like any ordinary Filipino whether he be a “hero” or not?”
because he is the king of all the filipino thieves.
Ancient Mariner says
I don’t think that it is a secret corridor. I believe that it is a tomb. You can see two runners on the floor for sliding the coffin, what is probably the door for the tomb leaning against the wall behind two of the men and two bolts at the top corners of the opening for bolting the door.
In my humble opinion.
Ancient Mariner says
No need to dig to exhume the body, or, the insert the real remains at a later date.
moonie says
if there is exhumation, it will show underground chamber, features like catacombs where several coffins can be interned in the holes in the walls. and if the marcoses dont want exhumation, they might as well tell the truth about the chamber.
Ancient Mariner says
I think that the most appropriate word for what they have done is, “ARROGANCE”.
wbar says
That is what they are “ARROGANT”. ..including their supporters.
Gerardo says
Your observation is the same as mine. The coffin was inserted on that chamber for purposes that we may not know about.
Vince says
They are sick in the head. Always have been, will always be. Ganyan talaga ang nangyayari sa utak ng mga taong nabuhay sa nakaw na pera.
Javier says
If indeed they wish, in the near future, to, once in a while, view the remains of the dictator, then refrigeration will not be enough, will it. They need to regularly inject the corpse with preservative to at least slow the ravages of time. Imagine the cost! Well, not only of regular injections of preservative, but also airconditioning.
moonie says
apparently, subterranean is cool and temperature below is constant, not much need for airconditioning.
if the admin of libingan can give this sort of favor to the marcoses, they must also extend the same favors to others, be fair and patas to all. there is no law yata that says you cannot build underground catacombs in libingan. he, he, he, it wont be long when yong nilibing will be buried along side favorite pet.
Menryski says
Basta may pera o yaman ang tao maraming magagawa. Lalo na kung may tumatanggap. Lahat ay kayang gawin basta may basbas ang nakakataas sa posisyon. Wala ng bago sa Pilipinas lahat na Lang ay mabibili, kahit yata kaluluwa basta may kapalit. SOS daw, Sagip O Suicide ang buhay sa Pilipinas. Wala ng Patriotism sa bansa. Kawawang Juan Dela Cruz.
wbar says
May pag asa na sanang mabago kung nagaptuloy ang TUWID NA DAAN…ngayun balik uli tayo sa “walang kamag-anak,walang kumpare pero may “Jose Velarde”, “Strong Republic” pero may “Jose Pidal”, “Change is coming” pero scamming pala..may birthday gift, may Emilio Aguinaldo..atbp. HAY NAKU, PILIPINAS.
Joy Javier says
balik tayo sa ang sarap ng buhay, buhay nila, tayo kawawa.
kerie masaru says
walang takot ang mga marcoses na to sa 2nd life puro kasinungalingan, pagnanakaw, pagkaganid at kagahaman sa lahat ng bagay ang nangingibabaw..walang contentment! nakasanla na siguro kay satanas mga kaluluwa ng mga to..ako ang kinikilabautan sa mga pinaggagawa nila sa taong bayan..
Sup says
FVR is angry, like in 1998
article by Rene AV Saguisag
June 14, 2011
“FVR to Erap: Don’t trust Marcoses,” blared the Phil. Star headline of June 25, 1988, as they “reneged on an earlier promise to bury the former president’s body immediately after it was brought back to the Philippines.” See also the PDI, June 25, 1998, where FVR said “[h]e will not allow a hero’s burial for Marcos as long as he is President …” It also noted that the IBP “cited Marcos’ human rights violations and greed as it stood firm in its opposition to his burial at the heroes’ cemetery.” My sense is that FVR remains opposed to such burial as proposed reportedly by 219 Congressmen.
Ano kaya ang IBP ngayon? Deafening silence. Tila the “I” in it means Inutil. Nalibing na yata ahead of Macoy? Good only in intramurals and in collecting dues? Paging the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
http://interaksyon.com/article/5711/commentary-rene-saguisag-on-fm-fvr-lmb-and-the-ibp
susan says
what karma awaitsvthe Marcos family..even the 7th generation from Marcos will suffer the lies, deceit, greed and grief that these Marcos family has hiven the entire nation.. a single person who wishes ill in his enemy is bad enough ..imagine millions of people cursing you to the bones and asking God for justice..sad that they dont realize this KARMA is a law that no one can get away from…no money or power can save you from it.. sad sad sad
Aleah says
Yes, no one gets away from KARMA
If what we want is happiness, peace, love, and friendship, then we should BE happy, peaceful, loving and a true friend.
Life doesn’t just happen. It requires our participation.
If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.
Written by in5d
so those who curse will get them back in time.
Each to his own karma. FM may have ended his when he left this Earth. He may come back again in another lifetime to sow the bad he may have done. For us who are still in our physicality, live in positivity so you’ll sow a better life when you still have to come back. Your hatred and anger only hurts your soul.
yvonne says
This is very likely one of the explanations why a supposedly ‘hero’s burial’ is closed to a general public.
I’ve never seen a ‘hero’ so detached from, and despised by, the people.
netty says
It was closed to public, but hey, public awareness is growing and this family are the ones exposing themselves, what kind of macabre people they are.
Senen Paez says
Indeed. They may have the power, wealth, and everything they need, but being condemned to their death makes everything worthless.
Edgar Lores says
*******
To tell the truth, I am a bit disappointed.
o Secret chamber? Yes, but just one and not two like the Pyramid of Khufu.
o Concrete walls painted white? Pfft! No luxurious Makrana marble like the Taj Mahal?
o Can fit four men and a coffin? Hah! No hundreds of life-size models of terracotta warriors and horses like the mausoleum of First Emperor Qin?
o Black granite topping from Italy? Pshaw! No white marble exterior and red sandstone like the Mughal Humayun’s garden-tomb which rises to a height of 47 meters?
Did I say a bit disappointed? No, correction: very, very disappointed.
At least the heirs and heiresses were thoughtful enough to provision a hydraulic system and a refrigeration unit. I am not sure the hydraulic system will raise the dead, but the refrigeration unit should provide protection from the burning fires.
You think?
****
Lyn O says
The taxpayers might pay the monthly electric bill.
netty says
Imagine it is a hydraulic fracking , who knows there is a burning untapped shale over there from the leaky pipes in Pandacan. I think, again.
Xi Jinping and Duterte would not go far to venture for gas and oil, it’s right under their noses.
They better be careful of methane inhalation for they will be transported where the sun doesn’t shine but there is constant burning fire.
The Observer says
Nag-check ako ng ibang pictures ng burial ni dictator marcos, at kitang-kita nga yong mga taong nasa underground chamber. Siguro may malaking space dun sa underground chamber na kung saan hihintayin ni dictator Marcos ang pagkamatay ni Imelda at ang iba pang members ng pamilya Marcos. Siguro din kaya nila minadali yong paglagay kay dictator marcos sa LNMB ay dahil gusto rin ni Imelda na dun din siya.
Kung meron ngang refrigeration unit in that underground chamber, baka gobyerno pa rin ang magbabayad ng electric bill. Mahal kaya ng kuryente, magkano kaya ang monthly bill. Hindi kaya biro yong maghapon at magdamag na bukas ang kuryente. Susmaryosep, sobra-sobra na ang kaswapangan ng mga Marcos kung gobyerno pa rin ang gagastos sa kanilang engrandeng libingan.
moonie says
kaya pala may brown out sa buong luzon few days ago, hanggang ngayon unexplain pa raw ang cause ng brown out na ito. I am presuming someone is stealing mega loads of electricity.
starting black friday, 18th of november, ang running electricity bill ng libingan ay lulubo masyado. meralco might be able to shed light on how much bigger the bill going to be. the city of taguig must also know.
Lyn O says
Exactly.WALANG KATAPUSAN pangigisa ng mga Marcos . HANGGANG kamatayan nananakawan pa rin ang Pilipino.
Amie says
Is it possible to demand from hereon to ask for the showing of electric bill from the Libingan ng mga Bayani since this is government agency? and compare them from the previous months before the “body” was interred?
moonie says
that’s macabre, keeping a corpse for their viewing pleasure. once dead, man is supposed to be put in the ground, dust to dust, and surrendered back to the maker. not kept on earth to aliw the family.
sure, we keep pictures of our dearly departed and kiss thier pictures from time to time, but to keep their mortal remains is just plain macabre. marcos family suffers from a form of necrophilia.
BonaV says
Sila ang di maka-move on.
Cannot let go of their dead.
X-factor says
Moony, you’re speculating and not hard fact. BonaV, huwag mag-comment sa isang speculation unless you know it to be true for a fact.
Speculations like these are the ingredients for a fractured society. Tigilan nyo na ‘yan!
vivian says
the chamber where his coffin was interred looks wider with enough space for 4 men to stand to carry his dried bones in a secret room. am wondering how many bodies of 206 skeletons each was removed just to construct this elaborate burial ground of this thief? even in his “burial” nag nakaw pa din sya ng mga libingan ng mga nalibing noon, dahil ang laki ng kinuha nya lupa to be able to construct such in the whims and caprice of his wife and children. bakit naging pilipino pa ang pamilyang eto? at marami pa ang ganito sa Pilipinas.
moonie says
the military and the custodian of libingan ng mga bayani have much to answer for. they let this morbid set up take place and eventuate. deal much have been struck and taken place, something for something, beneficial to both parties, the military and custodian of libingan, and the marcoses.
duquemarino says
Eerie.
Ano pa kayang alas o joker ang hawak ng mga Marcoses?
If it is a joker, then the joker has gone wild.
yvonne says
Subscribing.
kalakala says
maraming salamat po, ma’am raissa! you and your whole family are in our daily prayers.
nakakkilabot na ang mga ginagawa ng mga marcos. sobrang sobra natalaga.