MANILA, Philippines – A young student was brave enough to hold a solo protest outside the Libingan ng mga Bayani, where thousands of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ supporters were gathered on Saturday, November 19. 

John Algo, a graduate student of the Ateneo de Manila University, stood outside the gates of the cemetery with a sign saying, “If Marcos is a hero, then I’d rather be a villain! #NeverForget #NeverAgain.” 

He said he felt the need to come to the Libingan ng mga Bayani to protest how the late dictator’s burial was planned and surreptitiously carried out the day before. (READ: Behind the scenes: 12 hours to prepare for Marcos burial)

The Marcos family said they only wanted a peaceful and private ceremony, but the burial preparations came as a surprise to many.  

“Sabi nga sa (They said in the) Internet ‘ninja’, ‘di ba (right)? Quoting Vice President [Leni] Robredo, like a ‘thief in the night,’ and to me that is very insulting as a Filipino citizen, for the thousands who died before even I was born, for the freedom of speech that I’m having right now,” said Algo.

He was quoting Robredo, who said that the Marcos family “deliberately hid the information” about the burial “like a thief in the night.”

This has caused outrage among Marcos’ critics, who staged protests across Metro Manila and other parts of the country, including the People Power Monument along EDSA. 

On Saturday, more than 2,200 Marcos loyalists from Ilocos Norte entered the Libingan ng mga Bayani, where they heard a thanksgiving Mass together with Marcos’ wife Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos and their two children – Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

Algo, however, arrived past 1:30 pm, when several buses carrying Marcos loyalists started leaving the cemetery’s premises. 

“I felt that I need to come here, regardless of how many Marcos supporters are in there, how many [buses] they fill, no matter how many people are with me, it doesn’t matter. What matters is you express your perspective, you express your opinion, and for me, this is a very important issue,” said Algo. – Rappler.com