The Supreme Court has extended until October 18 an order temporarily stopping the planned burial of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the national heroes cemetery, in Taguig City on Sept.18.

After the end of oral arguments on petitions against the Marcos burial Wednesday, Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said the 15-member bench extended a status quo ante order, which is to expire on Monday, to give them time to resolve the case.

The High Tribunal issued the order last August 23.

The order was given to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief of staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya.

The order came after the government defended before the High Tribunal President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to bury Marcos at the national heroes cemetery.

Solicitor General Jose Calida said Duterte’s decision to allow the burial could not be reviewed by courts being a `presidential prerogative’ allowed by law and the Constitution.

Calida said Marcos will be buried as a former president and soldier.

Calida said millions of votes by Marcos's son, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the vice presidential polls last May elections could prove there is no more trauma among Filipinos from the martial law abuses.

But Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno asked Calida: “Aren’t we disacknowledging the pain of the victims by the burial?.” Calida replied: “Mere burial will not erase history.”

Calida said the Marcos burial is a “political question” but added Duterte will follow what the Supreme Court decides. DMS