Image via WikipediaStatement of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte:
On the Medal of Valor conferred on former President Ferdinand Marcos on October 1958
[Released on April 12, 2011]
President Marcos’ citation for the Medal of Valor was issued October 16, 1958 (General Order No. 167) during the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia when Marcos was still a Representative of the 1st District of Ilocos Norte by order of the Secretary of National Defense, signed by Lt. Gen Alfonso Arellano, AFP Chief of Staff. The Medal of Valor is conferred by authority of the President of the Philippines. The Regulations concerning its conferment are Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulations G131-053 (See 1-6A, Section II, Chapter 1) issued 1 July 1986.
On a historical note, the controversies concerning President Marcos’ awards as researched by historian Al McCoy and the late Bonifacio Gillego concern, in the main, his U.S. awards. Philippine awards remain post-war conferments during the time Marcos began his public life up to his being Senate President (in 1947 the Gold Cross medal when he was a technical assistant to President Roxas, in 1948 when he was conferred the Distinguished Conduct Star, The Philippine Legion of Honor by President Quirino in 1950, First Bronze Anahaw Leaf to the Distinguished Conduct Star, The Distinguished Service Star, First, Second, and Third Bronze Anahaw Leaves to the Gold Cross from October to December 1963 by President Macapagal; only the Second Bronze Anahaw Leaf to the Distinguished Conduct Star were awarded while Marcos was President, in 1983).
These awards continue to be on the official roster of awards of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Until otherwise revoked, the awardees continue to receive appropriate recognition. It should be noted that the Armed Forces recognizes awardees for the specific deeds that put them on the roster. The AFP’s recognition does not and cannot include subsequent actions by the recipient.
The rule of law and orderly regulation provides for the recognition given recipients of military awards. While there is public interest in the conferment of AFP awards, we should note these awards are generally viewed as nonpartisan and nonpolitical in the recognition open to all recipients given the Medal of Valor as established by law.
Concerning the issue of proposals for former President Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the Vice-President has been tasked to study the issue and decide the matter.
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