Philippine protesters oppose Marcos’ ‘hero’ burial
Protests took place in the Philippine capital Manila on August 14 over President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to honour the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos with a state burial.
Around 2,000 people gathered with placards and banners reading “Marcos: Not a Hero!” and “No hero’s burial for a criminal!” as they gathered at Rizal Park in Manila despite heavy rain, denouncing Duterte’s plan to move Marcos’ remains from his northern hometown to the National Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila next month.
Demonstrators included human rights activists, former legislators, students, victims of abuse under Marcos’ 20-year rule and Catholic nuns and clergy.
Marcos was president of the Philippines from 1966 to 1986 and was ousted by a revolt and forced to flee into exile in Hawaii, where he died in 1989. His body was returned to the Philippines in 1993 and has since been kept in a refrigerated crypt in a mausoleum in his home town of Batac in Ilocos Norte province north of Manila.
Past presidents have refused to have his body buried at the heroes’ cemetery due to allegations of corruption, human rights violations and other abuses during his rule. But Duterte is defending Marcos, noting that his father had served in the Marcos cabinet and he himself had even voted for Marcos before.
No date has been set for the burial, but – if it takes place – the late dictator’s son, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said it would likely be on September 18.
Protests took place in the Philippine capital Manila on August 14 over President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to honour the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos with a state burial. Around 2,000 people gathered with placards and banners reading “Marcos: Not a Hero!” and “No hero’s burial for a criminal!” as they gathered at Rizal Park in Manila despite heavy rain, denouncing Duterte's plan to move Marcos' remains from his northern hometown to the National Heroes' Cemetery in Manila next month. Demonstrators included human rights activists, former legislators, students, victims of abuse under Marcos’ 20-year rule and Catholic nuns and clergy. Marcos was...
Protests took place in the Philippine capital Manila on August 14 over President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to honour the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos with a state burial.
Around 2,000 people gathered with placards and banners reading “Marcos: Not a Hero!” and “No hero’s burial for a criminal!” as they gathered at Rizal Park in Manila despite heavy rain, denouncing Duterte’s plan to move Marcos’ remains from his northern hometown to the National Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila next month.
Demonstrators included human rights activists, former legislators, students, victims of abuse under Marcos’ 20-year rule and Catholic nuns and clergy.
Marcos was president of the Philippines from 1966 to 1986 and was ousted by a revolt and forced to flee into exile in Hawaii, where he died in 1989. His body was returned to the Philippines in 1993 and has since been kept in a refrigerated crypt in a mausoleum in his home town of Batac in Ilocos Norte province north of Manila.
Past presidents have refused to have his body buried at the heroes’ cemetery due to allegations of corruption, human rights violations and other abuses during his rule. But Duterte is defending Marcos, noting that his father had served in the Marcos cabinet and he himself had even voted for Marcos before.
No date has been set for the burial, but – if it takes place – the late dictator’s son, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said it would likely be on September 18.
