Youth group holds lightning rally in support of Marcos hero’s burial

A youth group supporting the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani held a lightning rally just a few meters from where a coalition of anti-Marcos groups were preparing for a 4 p.m. program at the People Power Monument in Quezon City. JOVIC YEE/INQUIRER

A youth group supporting the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani held a lightning rally just a few meters from where a coalition of anti-Marcos groups were preparing for a 4 p.m. program at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

RJ Castillo, spokesperson of the Youth Power Against Destabilization, told the Inquirer on Wednesday that their protest was meant to show their support for President Rodrigo Duterte.

He added that their group, which he describes as “pro-democracy and pro-peace,” respects the decision Duterte made in allowing the burial of the dictator at the heroes’ cemetery on Nov. 18.

Castillo said that the move would start the country’s “healing” and “progress.”

He pointed out that their support for the President was out of their desire to thwart certain groups’ supposed “destabilization” plots against the administration.

“There are groups who are riding on the Marcos burial [issue] to destabilize the government. If that happens, it is us the youth who are at the losing end,” the 20-year-old Castillo said.

One of such groups Castillo alleged was the Liberal Party, whose leaders and members he said had issued statements against Marcos’ burial.

“They’re hitting [President Duterte] but what happened in Mamasapano, in Hacienda Luisita was far worse,” he said. RAM

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