Ifugao rep ‘disheartened’ by Marcos burial, Trump win, but…

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

A Liberal Party lawmaker lamented a “series of unfortunate events” that marked the date November 8, both in the United States and the Philippines: the election of Donald Trump as US President, and the Supreme Court decision allowing the hero’s burial of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

In a text message on Thursday, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said he was disheartened with the news on November 8, a day which he lamented was marked by bigots, misogynists and dictators getting their place in history.

On Twitter, Baguilat said: “(I) can’t get over it. Marcos burial. Trump victory. But life goes on and toil we must till we rid the world of bigots, misogynists and dictators.”

“Just expressing that the series of unfortunate events may seem disheartening. But ultimately, we have to persevere and continue this crusade to convince more people that bigots, racists, dictators must not rule us,” Baguilat said when asked for a clarification.

Baguilat said he joined others in asking the question: “What’s happening to our world?”
“Most people I know kasi say ‘nakakaasar ang buhay’ or ‘what’s happening to our world.’ Well, I’d like to say na yes let’s mourn, grieve, but let’s realize that many people don’t have the values that we strongly adhere to,” Baguilat said.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday in a vote of 9-5 junked the petitions questioning the move of the Duterte administration to allow Marcos a burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, saying that Duterte had no abuse of discretion in trying to fulfill his campaign promise of putting the divisive issue to rest.

READ: SC: ‘No grave abuse of discretion’ by Duterte on Marcos burial 

“The Marcos burial has divided people’s opinion and while there is outrage on the SC decision, it hasn’t elicited a stronger more sustained anger and dismay from the general public,” Baguilat said.

Meanwhile, Trump won the US elections with 290 electoral votes over Hillary Clinton’s 218, on the back of his position against illegal immigrants and an American protectionist policy.

READ: Trump election elicits fears, some cheers around the globe 

Trump won the polls as he sustained misogynist attacks from critics, especially women who came up and accused Trump of sexually assaulting them.

READ: Trump denounces ‘lies and smears’ as more women come forward
“And while we are shocked with someone who capitalized on fear, racism and who’s unabashedly misogynist being elected as President of US, apparently many Americans agree with his view,” Baguilat said.

Baguilat said it seems liberal reformists like him have a lot more to do to propagate liberal against conservative ideas.

“So ibig sabihin, nagkukulang pa rin tayong mga reformists, progressives, liberals and rights advocates sa ating advocacy,” Baguilat said. JE
READ: Sereno: Marcos burial would be antithesis of symbolic reparation | Leonen: Marcos is no hero; Libingan burial illegal