FRAMING THE battle against former president Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as a fight for the next generation, human rights victims, advocates, and youth representatives came together yesterday to launch the Duyan ng Magiting coalition at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.
Four representatives from the Ateneo community were present in the launch, namely Carmela Vinzon (4 BS LifeSci), Sanggunian Coordinator; Ella Veloso (2 BS Psy), Deputy for Administrations, Operations, and Protocol for the Sanggunian Department of External Affairs; Maria Flor Soriano, Student Affairs Professional from the Office of Social Concern and Involvement; and Cristina J. Montiel, Ph,D., professor from the Department of Psychology.
The coalition released a petition asking President Rodrigo Duterte “to stop, for always” the planned burial, calling it “offensive to Filipinos, especially to the thousands who fought and died fighting his tyranny.” Instead, the petition said, Marcos should be buried in his hometown in Ilocos Norte, “where he is still honored.”
During the election campaign, Duterte promised that he would allow the burial to “erase one hurt” from the Filipino people. Yet recently, the president has been mum on the issue, most notably at his first State of the Nation Address last Monday.
But according to Paeng David, Akbayan Youth chair, the coalition has been hearing “some movements [related to the burial]…within government.”
“We realized and decided that we will not keep quiet about this because we don’t want to be surprised. And we want to tell Duterte as early as now that we’re watching him,” she said.
‘Dishonorably discharged’ by the people
According to guidelines set by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, personnel “who were dishonorably separated/reverted/discharged from the service, and personnel who were convicted by final judgement of an offense involving moral turpitude” are disqualified for a burial at the Libingan.
Based on this, the petition cited three reasons for opposing Marcos’ interment at the Libingan.
First, the former president was no hero since “he lied about having a distinguished war record…debunked by no less than the US military.” Second, that Marcos was “a dictator who ordered the torture, detention, and death of thousands,” to the point that the people themselves “dishonorably discharged…and deposed” him. And third, that he “was a plunderer” who was estimated to amass USD 5 to 10 billion in ill-gotten wealth, thus a case of “moral turpitude.”
Given these transgressions, Marie Jopson, sister of Martial Law martyr Edgar Jopson, believes that allowing the burial will leave a wrong legacy to the Filipino youth.
“Ipasa natin ‘yung karakter, ‘yung identity, ‘yung katangian ng isang tunay na bayaning Pilipino…It’s beyond galit sa mga Marcoses. Sorry kung sa tingin niyo pine-personal namin kayo, pero it’s really because we are concerned with the next generation of Filipinos. (Let us pass on the character, the identity, the qualities of a true Filipino hero…It’s beyond just anger to the Marcoses. Sorry if you think that we are taking this personally, but it’s really because we are concerned with the next generation of Filipinos),” she said.
Meanwhile, former Rep. Erin Tañada, grandson of former Sen. Lorenzo Tañada, related the seeming disregard for human rights in the current administration’s drive against drugs to the atrocities of Martial Law and the issue of Marcos’ burial.
“Ayaw po nating pumasok sa [isip ng] ating mga millenials na itong klaseng pamamaraan na nangyari, ‘yung pag-violate ng human rights ay puwedeng gawin para lamang sa usapin ng pag-unlad (We don’t want our millenials to think that these kinds of things, the violation of human rights can be done just for the sake of development.),” he said.
Susan Quimpo, youngest sister of victims Jun and Ronald Jan Quimpo, hopes that the coalition will be successful in putting to rest any proposal to bury Marcos at the Libingan.
“Sana po, huli na po tayong lumalaban sa mga pagkaganid ng mga Marcos at hindi na ito ang ating maging legacy sa ating mga anak. Tapusin na ho natin ang laban sa henerasyon na ‘to. (May we be the last ones to fight against the greed of the Marcoses and that this be no longer a legacy for our children. Let us end the fight in this generation.),” she said.
Atenean involvement
As a sign of support for the initiative, Vinzon read the Sanggunian’s stand on the burial released last July 16.
According to Vinzon, it is “relevant” for the Sanggunian to be involved in the initiative as representatives of the Loyola Schools student body, as part of the Ateneo community, and as members of the country’s youth.
“Malaki din ‘yung responsibility ng youth to educate themselves on the issue,” she said.
Vinzon said that apart from releasing a stand, the Sanggunian will also launch the #BawatBato initiative in the Ateneo, similar to those already done at the Libingan and at UP Diliman.
SINO SINO ANG NAGPADISCHARGE KAY MARCOS? PAANO NAMAN SASAGUTIN ANG NANG AGAW SA KAPANGYARIHAN IYAN BA ANG MATUTUTUNAN NG NEXT GENERATION? ANG MGA IYAN AY DEBATE PA HANGGANG NGAYON. KAYA ANG MAIWAN AY ANG MGA MABUBUTING NAGAWA. SA LAHAT NG PROYEKTO AY MAYROONG DIS ADVANTAGE . AS LONG NA MAS MALAKI ANG ADVANTAGE AY DAPAT GAWIN. KUNG AYAW MONG MAKAAPAK HUWAG MAGPROJECT BAGAY NA HINDI NAMAN MAAARI NA WALA KANG GAGAWIN.