Source: Cnnphilippines.com
By: CNN Philippines Staff
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — As days of prayer have begun in former president Ferdinand Marcos’ hometown, protesters on Wednesday vowed to continue blocking his burial at the heroes’ cemetery.
Martial law survivors in Manila said they would always retell the atrocities they experienced during the Marcos regime.
May Rodriguez, a campus journalist during martial law, said the burial issue was more than just a fight between the Marcoses and the Aquinos.
Rodriguez was referring to President Duterte’s comment that Marcos’ burial was just a fight between the two political families.
“Kami po nakipaglaban para sa bayan, sa demokrasya, para sa hustisya. Hindi para kay Ninoy,” Rodriguez said.
[Translation: “We fought for the nation, for democracy, for justice – not for Ninoy.”]
Former party-list representative Neri Colmenares, who was a student activist in the 70s, echoed Rodriguez’s sentiment.
“I think Duterte should re-recognize history and the context of martial law to explain inflamed emotions that continue to erupt until now,” Colmenares said.
He said the Marcos vs. Aquino narrative of the martial law years was “too reductionist.”
Colmenares said he and other survivors were not giving up their fight against Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, as ruled by the Supreme Court on November 8.
They have filed two petitions with the high court for a status quo ante order to prevent the Marcos camp from proceeding with burial plans.
While they respect the novena and requiem masses for the former president, the petitioners hope these do not signal definite plans — including a burial date.
CNN Philippines’ Ruth Cabal contributed to this report.