Akbayan Summons Heroes to Oppose Marcos Burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan party-list along with other human rights advocates today donned Filipino hero costumes in vehement opposition towards plans to bury former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The groups called on President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his plans to allow a hero's burial for the late dictator, ahead of the scheduled SONA of Pres. Duterte.

“We appeal to President Duterte to scrap plans for a hero's burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and instead focus the energy of his administration towards the recovery of all ill-gotten wealth as well as the pursuit of justice from the Marcoses instead,” said David.

The anti-martial law advocates further emphasized that real change can only happen, not by disregarding the Marcos sins, but by instead seeking accountability for the Filipino people.

“For genuine change to come, there must be justice – every Filipino was conned and victimized by the Marcos dictatorship,” said Akbayan spokesperson Paeng David. “His plunder of the country’s coffers represents taxpayers’ money which went into buying luxury shoes for Imelda and hosting lavish London parties for Bongbong.”

The groups further hit the late dictator for his fabricated military records, which the human rights advocates belive should disqualify the late president from being buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Marcos was neither a decorated veteran nor a distinguished military officer,” added David. “His war medals have been proven to be fake by the US Army, further adding insult to the idea of being buried alongside soldiers who actually sacrificed their lives for the country,” she said.

David further emphasized the stark contrast between the lifestyle of the Marcoses and the lifestyle of ordinary Filipinos, many of whom were forced to live in poverty.

“For more than thirty years, Filipinos have languished in poverty while the Marcoses kept moving their stolen wealth around and away from the hands of the Philippine government and its people,” added David. “A hero’s burial effectively legitimizes all the dictator’s excesses, and serves the interests of nobody but the family which benefited from this plunder.”

Akbayan members dressed up as Darna, Lastikman, Captain, Barbel, and other heroes in protest and denouncement of plans to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They were joined by grassroots organizations from the urban poor and peasant sectors.