Leni expected to attend anti-burial rally

MANILA, Philippines - Go out, wear a white shirt and join the assembly against the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Jozy Acosta, executive committee chair of the Coalition Against Marcos Burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (CAMB-LNMB), urged the people to occupy the Lapu-Lapu Monument in Rizal Park in Manila tomorrow to protest the hero’s burial for Marcos.

Vice President Leni Robredo and other government officials are expected to attend the assembly.

“We didn’t give a formal invitation to Ma’am Leni. We sent feelers since this is an open invitation for those who are willing to attend and from what I’ve heard she has confirmed her attendance just today [Friday],” Acosta said.

Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros have also confirmed their attendance, along with losing presidential candidate and Sen. Grace Poe.

Reps. Edcel Lagman, Kaka Bag-ao and Teddy Baguilat, former party-list representative Walden Bello and former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Etta Rosales will also attend the assembly.

Zena Bernardo of CAMB-LNMB said that the citizen’s assembly aims to gather signatures to stop the burial of the remains of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery.

The citizen’s assembly is set from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be a mini concert where some artists and singers will perform.

Bernardo clarified that the assembly is a peaceful activity, not a rally against President Duterte. It is an anti-Marcos burial assembly as some of those expected to attend are Duterte supporters.

Bernardo urged the people “to let go of their political color” by wearing a white shirt that signifies unity and humility.

She also urged parents to bring their children so that they will learn the dark days during the Marcos regime.

Citing the inclement weather in Manila, organizers urged attendees to bring umbrellas and raincoats, as well as food and garbage bags.

Appeal

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano appealed yesterday to the Marcos family to stop insisting on a hero’s burial at the Libingan and just bury the remains in their home province of Ilocos Norte.

“I’m clamoring for the Marcoses to make the sacrifice themselves and have a very good, decent, meaningful burial there in Ilocos. I hope that the Marcoses would see what is best for the country and not what’s best for the family,” he said.  – With Marvin Sy, Romina Cabrera