AMID heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm “Marce,” about a hundred Negrenses in Bacolod City braved the weather to condemn the hero’s burial for the late president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Friday.
The anti-Marcos protesters marched from the San Sebastian Cathedral to the Fountain of Justice yesterday afternoon, chanting: “ Marcos, Hitler. Diktador, Tuta. Marcos, Hitler. Diktador, Tuta.”
Christian Tuayon, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros (Bayan-Negros), said that even if they weren’t able to gather a massive crowd, what’s important is that they were able to join the nationwide protest.
“We are calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to cut his ties with the Marcoses and stop their political rehabilitation,” he said.
Tuayon added: “We don’t want the Marcoses back in power” because until now, they have not expressed regret on what the late dictator had done to the country during the Martial Law regime.
He said that burying Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani connotes that he was recognized as hero, when “he is not a hero.”
“We don’t want history to change. We want the new generation to know the real history, that Marcos was never a hero but a dictator,” he added.
He said that more protest rallies will be held in Bacolod on Bonifacio Day (November 30) and on Human Rights Day (December 10).
In Manila, thousands of protesters from different organizations and universities braved the rain to express rage and indignation against the Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).
Joining the massive protest at Rizal Park are students from University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Sto. Tomas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Miriam College, De La Salle University, Araullo High School and Batasan High School.
The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), women's group Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bayan, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas also joined the rally dubbed as Black Friday protest, the movement which they claimed to be the biggest and most widespread protest since the dictator was booted out of power in 1986.
The petitioners who earlier asked the Supreme Court to reverse President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to accord the dictator a hero's burial, former Bayan Muna Representatives Atty. Neri Colmenares and Saturnino Ocampo were also present in the event.
During the opening program, Colmenares, a human rights violation victim during the Martial Law, urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reverse the burial.
"May magagawa si presidente Duterte kung gusto na niyang tanggalin ang presidente bilang isa sa mga pwedeng ilibing doon," he said.
Colmenares said there will be no reconciliation if the Marcos will not apologize for the atrocities that happened during the Martial Law.
"Paano magkakaroon ng reconciliation eh ni hindi ina-acknowledge ng mga Marcoses na may human rights violation at plunder nung Martial Law," he said.
Colmenares said this is not just a fight against Macros but against the return of the Marcoses to power.
"Laban ito para 'di makabalik ang mga Marcos sa pulitikang poder," Colmenares said.
Director Joel Lamangan, former Sen. Tañad, Rene Saguisag and Activist Juana Change also joined the protest. (with reports from Sunnex)