Former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. forfeited his rights to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani as a soldier because of his acts as a dictator, a representative of the victims of human rights violations during Martial Law told Supreme Court justices on Wednesday.

At the first day of the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the consolidated petitions against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is representing the petitioners, said Marcos is “not worthy of inspiration or emulation” that would warrant his burial in the sacred cemetery.

Lagman said that while Marcos served as a soldier and a war veteran during World War II, his acts as a civilian when he was already the president of the Philippines negates his privilege to be honored as a soldier.

Read more: gmanetwork.com