MANILA – Almost 22 years after his death, the preserved body of the late Philippine strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos has yet to be formally buried. 

His wife, former first lady Imelda R. Marcos, awaits the Philippine government's decision on her appeal that her husband be given a hero’s burial at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” (Cemetery of Heroes).

Marcos’ body is kept in a specially-built transparent box in the family’s mausoleum in Batac, his hometown in northern Philippines. The mausoleum is open to the public.

Marcos fled to Hawaii following a four-day bloodless people-power revolt on Feb. 22-25, 1986. He died in exile on Sept. 28, 1989, after a lingering illness.

On Tuesday (March 22, 2011), 204 congressmen crossed party lines signing a resolution urging incumbent Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III that Marcos, a bitter political rival of his father, be buried at the “Linbingan ng mga Bayani” in suburban Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

The resolution was spearheaded by Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero, a former cabinet member of Marcos.

Last month, Marcos’ son, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., appealed anew that his father be given a hero’s burial, considering that the former president was a recipient of the “Medal of Valor”, the highest military medal bestowed to soldiers for gallantry in action during World War II. The older Marcos was a guerilla fighter during the Pacific war.

The Aquino government plans to hold public consultation regarding burial issue.

“Without denigrating the achievement of the leaders and officials that emerged after (1986) EDSA People Power Revolution, it can never be gainsaid that Ferdinand Marcos gave invaluable service to his country as soldier, writer, statesman and commander-in-chief,” the resolution read.

It may be recalled that Marcos who ruled the Philippines for 20 years before his ouster, was a political rival of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino Jr., the father of incumbent President Aquino III.

Aquino was one of the top opposition leaders arrested by Marcos when the latter declared martial law on Sept. 21, 1972.

During the trial by Military Commission No. 2, Ninoy remained defiant as he lambasted Marcos and challenged him for a free election.  On Nov. 25, 1977 after three years of trial, the military court sentenced Ninoy to die by musketry. The sentence was never carried out.

Instead, Ninoy was allowed to go to the US for a medical check up and remained there on self-exile. However, Ninoy decided to return to Manila where he was assassinated upon his arrival on Aug. 21, 1983.

The assassination of Ninoy preceded the downfall of Marcos three years later. Whether Marcos would be buried at the “Libingan ng mga Bayan” remains to be seen.