UP Diliman alumni condemn Marcos burial at Libingan

Several prominent alumni of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) student council released a statement condemning the hurried burial given to late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Signed by more than 390 former members of the University Student Council (USC), the group called for action from past and present UP students to stand and oppose the burial.

“In the dark times of the regime of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, the UPD USC, along with student organizations and publications, was abolished to quell the dissent of the youth against a repressive government,” the statement read.

“Many student leaders, activists, and journalists were abducted, tortured, raped, and murdered under his authoritarian rule.”

The group also called President Duterte as “directly responsible” behind the interment. It also held accountable the nine Supreme Court justices who voted against the petitions opposing the Marcos burial.

The signatories include now prominent lawmakers, journalists and professionals who once served as chair, vice chair, councilors and representatives of the student council.

Few of the undersigned are Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, journalists Malou Mangahas, Atom Araullo and Roby Alampay, Commission on Human Rights chair Chito Gascon, and former Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino.

They came from different years of service, as well as different political parties.

“We stand against the deliberate attempt to revise history and to erase the memory of those who fought for our democracy,” it read. “They may have buried a tyrant, but they can never bury our spirit to fight for the truth.” JE