Thousands return to EDSA to protest Marcos hero’s burial

Anti-Marcos individuals and organizations gathered anew in less than a week to protest the late dictator's burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, this time at the People Power Monument on EDSA on occassion of Bonifacio Day.

The Quezon City Police District said the crowd was at 3,000 at past 5 p.m. Organizers claimed the protesters reached 20,000 around 2 p.m.

Protesters against the Marcos burial first gathered at the Luneta on Friday.

As with the Luneta demonstration, those that gathered on EDSA wore black.

They included students and members of the academe from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and St. Scholastica's College.

Organizations of Martial Law victims such as the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation and Claimants 1081 also attended the rally, and members of the religious sector including priests and nuns.

Dubbed Siklab Bayan, Wednesday's rally was organized by the Coalition Against the Marcos Burial in LNMB to criticize the Duterte administration for allowing the hero's burial of the late strongman.

"True to its name, the massive protest marks the fiery and vigorous response of citizens nationwide, especially among the youth, to the stealthy and secret hero's burial of the dictator Marcos," CAMB-LNMB organizer Jozy Acosta-Nisperos said.

Nisperos said the multi-partisan and multi-sectoral gathering at the People Power Monument was historical revisionism and the return of the Marcoses to power.

Principle

In her first day as the ?resigned chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Maria Serena Diokno on Wednesday said she never felt better choosing principle over her government post.

?"I am happy. I am very happy," she told GMA News Online. "They just have to understand, it is my principle. I believe in principle."?

?"I'm 44 years old, senior citizen na ako, pero bumabalik pa rin sa rally. The last time I did this matagal na," she said.?

'Generally peaceful'

National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson Chief Insp. Kim Molitas said the rally was generally peaceful since the program started at 4 p.m.

"The protest has been generally peaceful. Total of more or less [3,200] people from various groups graced the occasion," Molitas said in a text message.

Molitas added about 400 pro-government marchers went to the People Power Monument but no untoward incident happened between the pro- and anti- groups.

"Also just to note that pro government composed of around 400 also went to the EDSA Shrine.. no untoward incident happened while rallies were being carried out," she said. —NB, GMA News