Riot police yesterday blocked hundreds of protesters trying to prevent the family of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos from celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth at the Philippines’ “Heroes’ Cemetery.”
Three decades after a bloodless “People Power” revolution toppled the Marcos regime, his family holds influential political posts and is busy rehabilitating his legacy — with the help of family friend Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte last year allowed the remains to be buried at the cemetery, reserved for soldiers slain in battle and former presidents. Last week he declared the birth anniversary on Sept. 11 a holiday in the former leader’s home province.
Photo: AFP
“This is an insult to the memory of my father,” said Amira Lidasan, one of a group of protesters against Marcos estimated by police to number 500, who marched on the cemetery gates.
Lidasan said her father was imprisoned for a month for a nighttime curfew violation in the early 1970s, when Marcos put the country under martial law for more than eight years.
The father died from illness shortly afterward, she added.
However, about 300 riot police blocked a road leading to the Marcos tomb, allowing the family to hold a private reception inside the cemetery grounds.
About 50 elderly women, supporters of Marcos, flashed V-for-victory signs and sang Happy Birthday at a separate gathering outside the cemetery gates.
“He achieved many things during his presidency. He built roads and many other structures and he kept the prices of grocery items low,” said Erlinda Taning, 65.
Marcos oversaw widespread human rights abuses during his 20-year rule. Thousands of people were killed, tortured or imprisoned, according to rights advocates and previous Philippine governments.
He has also been accused of embezzling billions of US dollars from state coffers during his rule, with anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International in 2004 naming him the second most corrupt leader of all time, behind former Indonesian president Suharto.
However, no member of the Marcos clan has ever gone to prison and the family has made a dramatic political comeback in recent years, with his widow and two children being elected to office.
The election last year of Duterte, a family friend, has accelerated the rehabilitation.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos’ son, lost the vice-presidential election last year, but has filed an election protest in hopes of overturning the result.
Duterte, who was elected separately, has endorsed his protest.
Protesters yesterday burned a banner that read “Marcos, Duterte, fascist” and which depicted a two-faced man — half Marcos and half Duterte.
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