ON FORMER President Ferdinand Marcos' 99th birthday, an open movement from Davao City, once again voiced out their condemnation of his planned burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).
Konsensya Dabaw set up a protest picket in front of the City Council and opened white umbrellas spelling out, “Marcos ilubong sa Batac (Bury Marcos in Batac).”
"On his birth anniversary we deem it fitting that Philippine society be reminded of the deathbed wish that Marcos himself expressed to former Vice-President Doy Laurel: that he be laid to his final rest beside his mother, Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos who is buried in Batac," Konsensya Dabaw's Mags Maglana said.
The organization, composed of groups and individuals who are victims of human rights violation during Marcos' regime and supporters, was formed recently to join the call for justice.
Maglana, as well as the group, hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte would listen to them as fellow Dabawenyos.
The group also took note of the start of Eid'l Adha and the sacrifices that many Muslim communities did during the Martial Law, Maglana said in Monday's interview.
Guaimel Alim, chair of the council of leaders Consurtium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (Cbcs), said in a statement sent on Monday, "For the Bangsamoro, Marcos is not a hero, as he caused miseries. To bury him in the Libingan ng mga Bayani belies the real meaning of a hero's burial. Our country needs national unity, healing and reconciliation. But these can only happen when we are able to transform our society and give justice to where justice is due."
The plan to bury Marcos at the LNMB is being used by Marcosian forces not necessarily to honor Marcos but really to further the agenda of the unrepentant Marcos family and their fellow oligarchs, which is to continue the whitewash of the Marcos years, Alim added.
In previous reports, President Duterte said to allow Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is eligible as the law states those who could be buried there are former presidents and soldiers. (CCC)