Cebuanos stage protest vs Marcos burial

CEBU, Philippines – Cebuano protesters joined forces in Metro Colon, Cebu City, to protest against the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Friday, November 18.

The rally in Cebu was one of many post-Marcos burial protests scheduled to happen until November 30. 

In Manila, thousands of protesters also gathered at the People Power Monument along EDSA after the surprise burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Emalyn Aliviano, spokesperson of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, expressed her disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision, claiming that the verdict was legally and politically wrong. According to her, it also violates the Constitution. 

“I will tell you that this is legally wrong and insane. This is constitutionally a violation. This is legally insane tungod kay wala pa nila gitapos ang pag-entertain sa motion of reconsideration. Ten days pa lang gikan sa desisyon sa Supreme Court and then ilaha nang gipalubong si Marcos,” Aliviano said.

(This is legally insane because they haven’t finished entertaining the motion for reconsideration. It’s been 10 days since the decision of the Supreme Court and then they had Marcos buried.)

‘Sneaky, illegal’ burial

Aliviano added that she was dismayed by the presence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as they attended to Marcos’ remains.

Meanwhile, Justine Balane of Akbayan Youth Cebu described the late president’s burial as sensitive, sneaky, and illegal. He even argued that President Rodrigo Duterte mobilized and enabled the AFP and PNP to join the burial.

“Bisan si president Duterte gi mobilized and AFP and PNP aron mutambong sa lubong. Dili pwede nga muiingon ang palasyo nga na shock pud sila kay sugod sa sugod si President Duterte gyod ang nakaingon kung nganong nadayon ang heroes burial para kay Ferdinand Marcos,” he said.

(Even President Duterte managed to mobilize the AFP and PNP to be at the burial. The Palace cannot just claim that they were also surprised. President Duterte is the reason why the hero’s burial for Ferdinand Marcos was granted.)

Balane also reminded the public to always look back at the past, reminding everyone of the “real heroes” who fought for the the rights and freedom the nation enjoys today. 

Akbayan Youth, Sanlakas, Cebu Citizen Assembly, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, and Free Legal Assistance were among the organizations that attended the rally.

There were also simultaneous rallies held in Bacolod City at the Fountain of Justice and in Palawan at the provincial capitol. – Rappler.com 

Apple Grace Danuco is a graduating student at the University of San Jose Recoletos and a lead Rappler Mover in Cebu