UPLB students hold ‘unity walk’ vs Marcos hero’s burial

SAN PEDRO CITY—Hundreds of students were expected to join Friday’s rally at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) following the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

The students, led by the University Student Council, held a “unity walk” around the campus at 2 p.m.

In Cabuyao City, Laguna, members of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (Bayan-ST) were also expected to hold a protest around 5 p.m.

“We we’re really supposed to hold a rally today in commemoration of the International Students Day (on Nov. 17), but (given the developments), we are including in our calls our protest against Marcos’ burial,” said council chairperson Merwin Alinea in a phone interview.

He said they too were “surprised” after learning about the hastily arranged burial of the late strongman.

“We didn’t believe it at first until we verified it from TV reports,” he said.

Bayan-ST spokesperson Peti Enriquez said workers from Cabuyao City would be joining a “black protest” and candle lighting activity. She said the group is also burning a portrait of Marcos to express their protest.

There were 485 “documented” martial law victims in Southern Tagalog, 61 of them were victims of extrajudicial killings, 40 of forced disappearance, and 384 were tortured, she said./rga

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