MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos family sent out invitations to celebrate on Monday the 100th birth anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose surprise burial last year at the Heroes' Cemetery was met with nationwide protests.
READ: Marcos buried at Libingan in 'surprise' ceremony
Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, among lawmakers demanding the return of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, showed a copy of the invitation to reporters Friday.
The program will begin with a mass at 9:30 a.m. followed by a short program then lunch, the invitation detailed.
Marcos' controversial hero's burial was a fulfillment of a campaign vow of President Rodrigo Duterte who admitted being indebted to the late strongman's daughter, Imee Marcos.
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A photo of the invitation showed to reporters by Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin.
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Duterte also declared September 11 a special holiday in Ilocos Norte, Marcos' home province, to mark the late dictator's birth anniversary.
BAYAN Secretary-General Nato Reyes tagged the declaration as "another step towards the full rehabilitation of the Marcos family."
"Duterte seems to be setting the stage for an eventual compromise deal with the dictator's family. The Marcos restoration is a grave injustice inflicted on the thousands of human rights victims under Martial Law," he added.
The Marcoses returned to the Philippines from their ignominious exile to Hawaii in 1986. His widow Imelda is currently 2nd District representative of Ilocos Norte while Imee is the province's governor. His son, Bongbong, ran for vice president but lost by 263,473 votes to Leni Robredo. His electoral protest against the results is ongoing.
— Mikas Matsuzawa