Albay youth: Why was Marcos buried despite pending appeal?

ALBAY, Philippines – High school and college students in Legazpi City marched on the streets shortly before noon on Wednesday, November 30, to denounce the burial of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).

Some of them clad in Gabriela Sinang and Andres Bonifacio attires, members of Anakbayan gathered at the Freedom Park before heading to the Pinaglabanan Monument in downtown Legazpi, joining Martial law survivors.

Angel de Mesa, a journalism student of Bicol University and provincial coordinator of National Union of the Students of the Philippines, said they were questioning the government and the Marcos family for burying the remains of the dictator while the Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing it was not yet final. 

Marcos was buried surreptitiously 10 days after the SC said President Rodrigo Duterte did not abuse his discretion in ordering the burial at the LNMB. 

It fell within the 15-day period when petitioners could file motions for reconsideration. They, in fact, notified the High Court, even before the hasty burial, that they were just waiting for their copies of the ruling so they could file their appeals. 

“We’re strongly opposing the burial of dictator President Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery. We are calling on the people to join our cause. This is without political color,” De Me said. 

“Our aim is to attain justice for the victims of Marcos regime” in the countryside, she added.

The anti-Marcos rally in Legazpi was staged in solidarity with other protests in Metro Manila and other cities on Wednesday. The call is for Marcos’ remains to be exhumed from the LNMB, and to hold President Duterte directly accountable for his burial. 

On November 25, Bicol also joined the nationwide protests against  the Marcos burial. The call then was for Duterte to end his alliance with the Marcoses. – Rappler.com