AROUND 3,000 people including students, activist groups and Martial Law victims mounted another peaceful protest at the People Power Monument on EDSA to condemn the unannounced hero’s internment of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Maria Serena Diokno, who recently resigned as head of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, urged young people to stand up and know what is right from wrong.
“Sabi nila, kontrobersyal ang pag-resign ko. Kelan pa naging kontrobersiyal ang manindigan sa katotohanan?” Diokno said.
“Sa mga kabataan, let’s know our history. Let’s take history seriously. Ni isang retaso ng diktadurya, hindi natin papayagang bumalik. Mga kababayan, umaasa talaga ako na itutuloy ang ating pagkilos,” she said.
Singer and composer Jim Parades said he was happy there was a large turnout of youths in the protest.
“To the youth, we are passing the torch to you. Do not let another dictator rule again,” he said.
Heads of three universities shared the stage together for the first time to condemn the Marcos burial.
University of the Philippines-Diliman Chancellor Mike Tan, Ateneo de Manila President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J., and De La Salle University President Br. Raymundo Suplido thanked the young protesters for spending the Nov. 30 Bonifacio Day holiday on EDSA.
Revert decision
Akbayan Youth leader Rafaela David urged President Duterte to change his decision on the Marcos burial, saying the former president was mistakenly depicted as a hero.
“Hindi namin hinihingi na magresign ang Pangulo. Gusto lang namin ipatama ang mali,” David said.
“Dapat rin nating panagutin ang mga Marcoses. Kung hindi natin nagawa dati, gawin natin ngayon,” she added.
Kat Leuch of Block Marcos Movement said Duterte betrayed the public by allowing a hero’s burial for a dictator who should be held accountable for numerous human rights violations during military rule.
“Binalaan ni Digong na papatayin niya ang human rights activists. Gusto niya tayong patahimikin pero ‘di tayo natatakot,” she said.
Protesters held a noise barrage at 6 in the evening. They also raised flashing mobile phones as a symbol for being the “stars of the society and the beacon of truth.”
Speakers during the protest included Nicole de Castro of Millennials Against Dictators, Boni Ilagan of Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang, UP professor Toym Imao, and student leaders from UP, Ateneo, La Salle and Far Eastern University.
