Malacañang welcomes protests vs Marcos burial
KEEP HIM IN BATAC Hundreds of people gather at the Lapu-Lapu monument in Rizal Park, Manila to protest the burial of President Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani. President Duterte is determined to allow a state burial for the late dictator. FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Malacañang on Sunday said the government welcomes any protest action against the looming hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as long as it does not cause inconvenience to traffic and the general public.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said government security forces will exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters.
“‘Yung policy po pagdating sa protesta, maximum tolerance pa rin. Papabayaan sila mag-protesta kahit saan nila gusto. Huwag lang, huwag lang gambalain ang ating mga motorista dahil alam naman natin na ang trapik po sa Metro Manila ay terrible,” Andanar said over radio DZBB.
(The policy when it comes to protests is still maximum tolerance. Let them protest wherever they want. Just don’t disturb the motorists because we know that the traffic in Metro Manila is terrible.)
“Kanyang, sinabi po ng Pangulo na papabayaan niya (The President said to let them be). We are democratic country. We have freedom of speech. We have the freedom to assemble and to express our views and opinions. Life goes on. Life goes on. We can do whatever… as long as huwag lang po natin gambalain ang ating mga motorista. Kasi talagang katakot-takot na trapik ang mae-experience po ng mga kababayan natin (as long as they don’t disturb the motorists because they will experience dreadful traffic),” he added.
READ: Duterte firm on Marcos burial: ‘The law is the law’
Andanar said protesters may utilize free, wide spaces in their public demonstrations.
Voting 9-5 with one abstention, the Supreme Court last week junked all petitions against President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to bury Marcos’ remains at the heroes’ cemetery despite strong opposition from martial law victims, rights advocates, and the general public.
READ: SC votes, 9-5, for burial of Marcos at Libingan
The high tribunal’s ruling was met with protests throughout the country, including noise barrages and candle-lighting activities by students in Manila. A group of lawyers and rights defenders also trooped to the bar examinations venue on Sunday to protest the decision.
Malacañang said there was no definite date for the burial but added that it would happen within the year. JE/rga
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