Galawang Hokage: Youth protest sudden Marcos burial at LNMB

Youth groups have joined the mounting clamor against the sudden burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) at noon Friday, likening the move to a "ninja," "a thief in the night."

"Like a thief in the night, the state has railroaded the hero’s burial for a fascist dictator. This is a historical crime to the people. Giving Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial is like ridding him of his bloody record of fascist violence, human rights violations, corruption, puppetry from imperialist US, and economic hardships that was endured by the Filipino people through 14 years of dictatorship," said League of Filipino Students (LFS) National Spokesperson JP Rosos in a press statement.

"In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the act of giving tributes and honors to a former dictator. This atrocious and stealthy act sends the message that it is okay to be a dictator, a human rights violator, a corrupt leader, and a criminal – and that the government will consider you a hero for committing such crimes," he added.

The Kabataan Partylist group has also criticized the burial, decrying it as "a grave travesty" and a "Hokage" (ninja) move.

"The deposed president is not worthy of emulation, much less the honor of being considered a hero. In the wake of his administration, he left the Philippines as a bankrupt, rotten killing field. Hanggang huling hantungan, galawang magnanakaw pa rin itong si Marcos, sa salita nga ng mga millennial, galawang Hokage," Kabataan Partylist Cong. Sarah Elago was quoted as saying. — TJ Dimacali / GMA News