Sneaky burial draws criticism

CEBU, Philippines - The low profile burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani yesterday has drawn negative reactions from Cebuanos. There are, however, also those who simply did not care.

About a hundred people converged in Colon Street in downtown Cebu City yesterday afternoon to protest the burial through a noise barrage and "honk-against-Marcos" indignation rally.

The group, comprising mostly Anti-Bongbong Coalition, Akbayan and Sanlakas members, was just one of the many organizations that aired their opposition to the burial of the dictator. At 6 p.m., Bayan-affiliated groups also conducted their own protest action.

Both groups described the burial as “sneaky” and nothing surprising, just like the crimes that the Marcoses have perpetrated during Martial Law.

Their message to President Rodrigo Duterte is for him to listen to the sentiments of the victims of Martial Law, said Teody Navea, spokesperson of the "Cebu Citizens Assembly Against the Burial of Marcos at the LNMB" multi-sectorial group.

The groups also vowed to continue their protests on the streets every time a member of the Marcos family comes to Cebu.

Navea said that the president's decision has created conflicts and opened the wounds of the Martial Law instead of unifying the country.

He said anger of the people have been amplified with the "sneaky" burial today.

They started converging at Colon Street at around 4 p.m. and asked motorists to blow their horns to support the protest action. Participants also brought with them empty tin cans and whistle that they use to take part in the noise barrage.

Some motorists responded and sounded their horns, but there were also those who did not respond.

Navea, said the Marcos family would be followed by protests whenever they come to Cebu to remind them of the crimes during Martial Law.

He said the protest yesterday was just the beginning of the rallies that they would conduct because of the Marcos burial.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, on the other hand, expressed disappointment over the burial, especially that it came unannounced.

He, however, said he understood the strategy, that Marcos was buried without prior notice, so that their family’s embarrassment will not be showcased to the Filipinos, specifically for those who are against.

"The burial must've been done sneakily to outsmart protesters and make sure that Marcos' body will finally be put to rest at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani," Osmeña said.

He has been vocal in criticizing Marcos, especially that his father, former senator Sergio Osmeña Jr. was one of the victims of the Plaza Miranda Bombing.

Jaime Paglinawan, Bayan-Central Visayas chairperson, said the assembly also strongly condemned the nine Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of Marcos being allowed to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Navea said they will set up a signage at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City detailing the names of these justices so that the Cebuanos will forever remember them.

Meanwhile, in a press statement, League of Filipino Students national spokesperson JP Rosos said they condemn the act of giving tribute and honor to a former dictator, “in the strongest possible terms.”

"This atrocious and stealthy act sends the message that it is okay to be a dictator, a human rights violator, a corrupt leader, and a criminal and that the government will consider you a hero for committing such crimes,” said Rosos.

“Giving Marcos a tribute and hero’s burial means glorifying all his crimes to the people. Matrial Law was and will never be acceptable for the people,” he added.  — Dale Israel, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Odessa O. Leyson (FREEMAN)