MANILA - The status quo ante order (SQAO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC) that has prevented the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Libingan) will lapse tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18.

The SQAO was in favor of several petitions that challenged the current administration's move to allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan, where fallen soldiers, national artists, and other personalities "worthy of emulation" are also interred.

Petitioners are led by former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.

Petitioners argued that Marcos' burial at the Libingan violates Republic Act (RA) No. 289, "An Act Providing for the Construction of a National Pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of the Country," tantamount to condonation of "abuses committed by the Marcos regime" and human rights violations during Martial Law; and a violation of the written agreement between the Philippine government, through former President Fidel Ramos, and the Marcos family on the interment of Marcos' remains in Ilocos Norte; among others.

• READ: Hero's burial for Marcos mocks Constitution, rights victims tell SC

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), representing respondent government officials, on the other hand, pointed out the following arguments:

- Marcos was, in life, a President, Commander-in-Chief, retired military veteran and Medal of Valor awardee, and thus, may be interred at the Libingan pursuant to [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Regulations G 161-375;

- Marcos, prior to his death, possessed none of the disqualifications from being interred at the Libingan, as stated in AFP Regulations G 161-375;

- the recognition and reparation of human rights violations victims under Republic Act No. 10368 (An Act Providing for Preparation and Recognition of Victims of Human Rights Violations During the Marcos Regime) would not be impaired by the interment of former President Marcos at the Libingan;

- the interment of Marcos' remains at the Libingan is not contrary to public policy;

- the interment of Marcos' remains at the Libingan does not contravene the principles and policies enshrined in the 1987 Constitution;

- the interment of Marcos' remains at the Libingan does not violate the Philippines' obligations under International Law and norms; and

- the President is not bound by the alleged 1993 Agreement between former President Fidel V. Ramos and the Marcos family to have the remains of former President Marcos interred at Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The consolidated case is on the agenda of the high court's en banc session tomorrow.

According to ABS-CBN News sources, no draft decision has been released, to date, by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the justice in charge of the case.