BAYAN to Duterte: Don’t underestimate outrage over Marcos burial

A leftist group has warned President Rodrigo Duterte about the extent of the people's outrage over the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes said the mass protests on Friday, dubbed as Black Friday, should make Duterte to reconsider his position that Marcos deserved to be buried at the LNMB.

"It is also important that the President listen to the people and understand their deep resentment of the dictator," Reyes told GMA News Online.

"Spontaneous protests and organized actions are telling signs that the burial is widely rejected. He must not underestimate the people's outrage," he added.

In a news conference in Davao City following his trips to Peru and New Zealand, Duterte maintained that his decision to allow the burial of late former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was the correct call.

Duterte, nonetheless, said he would allow the holding of the rallies and assured the safety of the protesters.

Reyes welcomed Duterte's pronouncement, vowing the protest at Luneta and 13 sites in the provinces would be peaceful.

"Bayan welcomes the President's statement that permits will not be required for the #MarcosNoHero rallies tomorrow. #BlackFriday in Luneta is on. Protests are also expected across the nation, in all major urban centers. We expect peaceful yet indignant actions," Reyes said.

'Face judgment of history'

Meanwhile, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation—an organization honoring individuals who defied Martial Law—executive director May Rodriguez said Duterte risks facing the judgment of history by pleasing the family of the late dictator.

"Duterte did it only to please the Marcoses. Now he has to face the judgment of history and the anger of the people side by side with the Marcos family," Rodriguez told GMA News Online.

She said Duterte deceived the public when he said the burial of Marcos at LNMB was for unity and reconciliation.

"Duterte was not only badly mistaken in deciding to allow the Marcos burial at LNMB. He is deceiving us in using the justification that he did it for unity and reconciliation," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the rally on Friday was the right of the public, who stand on the side of the law by opposing the Marcos burial.

"The protesters were on the right side of the law. In holding the protest rally, they owe nothing to Duterte, that is their right to enjoy as citizens and his duty to ensure as the country's president," Rodriguez said. —NB, GMA News