- Martial Law victim and former CHR Chair Etta Rosales says 75,000 claimants are enough evidence that Marcos is not a hero
- Rosales was speaking before thousands of protesters who oppose the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
- Thousands gathered at the Luneta despite the rain to express their call to President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the set interment
Former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Etta Rosales said on Sunday, August 14, that the volume of claimants who were victims of human rights violations during the martial law is enough evidence to bar the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“75,700 claimants ng pinaslang ni Marcos, tinorture ni Marcos, dinukot ni Marcos na siyang lumabas at nangahas at sabihin na kami po ay biktima ng karahasan ni Marcos, hindi ba sapat na ebidensya? Hindi ba ebidensya na si Marcos ay hindi isang bayani?” the martial law victim told a crowd of thousands during a rally on a rainy Sunday morning.
[There are 75,700 claimants of those killed by Marcos, or who were tortured by Marcos, abducted by Marcos, who spoke up to say that they were victims of brutalities during the Marcos regime, isn’t that enough evidence? Isn’t that proof that Marcos is not a hero?]
Rosales, together with other speakers such as former Senator Wigberto Tañada and economist Winnie Monsod led thousands of participants in a citizens’ assembly that calls on President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the hero’s burial for the late dictator.
“Huwag nang ilibing sa Libingan ng mga Bayani si Ferdinand Marcos, ilibing na lang siya sa Ilocos Norte [Marcos should just be buried in Ilocos Northe, not at the Heroes’ Grave],” the former senator said as he pressed that Marcos’ burial in the national shrine violates the deal made by his family with the government in order for his remains to be brought back to the Philippines.
Allies of former President Benigno Aquino III in the Liberal Party including Mar Roxas, incumbent congressmen Teddy Baguilat Jr. and Edcel Lagman, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima were also present in the event.
A former justice secretary, de Lima said that the best action to counter the President’s decision is massive protest and pursuing a case before the Supreme Court.
“I think there is enough argument – moral and legal grounds – to convince the court to stop this,” she said.
Organizers said this is only one of the series of rallies they will hold before the set burial on September 18.
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