VARIOUS GROUPS staged a series of demonstrations last weekend in a plea for Supreme Court (SC) justices to vote against the proposed burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The mobilizations come ahead of the expected release of the SC’s decision on Marcos’s planned burial tomorrow, November 8, the deadline of the status quo ante order issued for the burial.
The Philippine Star reported that a close vote on the burial is expected. A majority of eight votes out of 14 are needed to junk the proposal, since Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa has inhibited voting in the case, citing “close ties” with a party to the case.
SC rally
Amidst the rain last Friday, representatives from groups led by Duyan ng Magiting, a coalition opposed to the proposed hero’s burial for Marcos held a rally in front of the Supreme Court (SC) at Padre Faura, Manila.
The Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) and the Sanggunian were among the groups present in the mobilization. Representatives from Akbayan, iDefend, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB)
The protesters spoke against the burial, citing the atrocities committed under Marcos’s presidency.
“[With the] human rights violations [and] corruption issues, how can we put a man like that inside the Libingan ng mga Bayani?” said Karlo Abadines of SLB. “To bury him there is a very powerful symbolic act,” he added.
Floyd Gonda of the Martial Law Chronicles Project led the crowd in a chant, calling out all the justices’ names in an appeal for a “no” vote.
Sanggunian External Affairs Deputy for Advocacy Management Karin Bangsoy (3 AB-MA POS) spoke about the youth’s role in upholding history and justice. “As youth, the challenge now for us is to move this nation forward; but we cannot do so at the expense of justice and truth,” she said.
The demonstration also featured poetry reading, musical performances from the Bread and Butter singers, and a candle-lighting ceremony.
‘Pray for eight’
The groups held up signs reading “Pray for 8,” referring to eight ‘no’ votes from the SC justices, the minimum needed to strike down the plans for burial.
“Kung hindi namin makuha ‘yung eight, that’s a big blow to the victims of Martial Law and to history itself. We are revising history already by calling Marcos a hero,” said Susan Quimpo of Duyan ng Magiting.
“If they vote yes, then the SC will bury Truth and Justice with the Dictator,” said the coalition in a statement.
Concerned members of the Ateneo community also offered a “Mass for Peace and Justice” at the Ateneo’s Church of the Gesu last Friday ahead of tomorrow’s decision on the Marcos burial.
Opposition senator Leila de Lima was present in the Mass.
In his homily, main celebrant Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, urged the “children of the light” to “stand firm” amidst dark times. “Maging alitaptap sa gitna ng dilim. [Be a firefly amid the darkness.],” he said.
‘Not a feud between families’
Meanwhile, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III broke his silence and joined calls for the SC to junk Marcos’ Libingan burial at a prayer rally concert held at the Rizal Park in Manila yesterday.
In a report by Rappler, Aquino stated that he first chose to stay silent so that other victims can tell their stories.
“I had decades to [talk about the issue]. Now this is the chance for the people to see that this is not only about the feud between our families. This is a struggle of many Filipinos,” he said.
