With just over a month left before Ferdinand Marcos’ scheduled burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB, Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig City, the Coalition Against Marcos Burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (CAMB-LNMB) has urged the public to join their protest/assembly on Aug 14, Sunday.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the Sep 18 burial of the late dictator with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute.
READ: Former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani on Sep 18
Jozy Acosta, executive committee chair of the CAMB-LNMB, said they also sent out an invitation to concerned public officials, including Vice President Leni Robredo.
“We didn’t give a formal invitation to Ma’am Leni. We sent feelers since this is an open invitation for those who are willing to attend and from what I’ve heard she has confirmed her attendance just today [Friday],” Acosta said in a Philippine Star report.
Aside from Robredo, senators Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Grace Poe have confirmed their attendance for the rally to be held at the Lapu-Lapu Monument in Rizal Park from 8 a.m. to 12 nn.
On Aug 8, Robredo has issued a statement strongly opposing the burial of Marcos in the midst of Philippine heroes.
“How can we allow a hero’s burial for a man who has plundered our country and was responsible for the death and disappearance of many Filipinos? Those who have greatly committed crimes and moral turpitude to the Filipino people cannot be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
This decision will not bring unity to our country; it will only deepen the unhealed wounds of the survivors and family members of victims of the terrible years under the Marcos presidency.
Furthermore, his heirs continue to deny that these sins against our people happened. They continue to have no remorse and still prevent the return of the wealth that they stole.
It is our responsibility to teach our children the heroism and sacrifice of our forefathers.
And Mr. Marcos is no hero.”
