Protest rally vs. Marcos burial mars funeral rites for ex-Army chief at Libingan

A protest rally of leftist groups against the planned hero's burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos marred the funeral rites for former Army chief Major General Rodolfo Canieso at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Thursday.

Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said around 60 to 70 protesters from Gabriela and other leftist groups staged their protest at the LNMB gates for about 20 minutes just as Canieso's remains from Bacolod arrived.

Hao confirmed the group was at LNMB to oppose the hero's burial for Marcos.

"Ang request lang namin, nirerespeto namin yung kanilang karapatang i-air yung  grievances nila pero umaapela kami [na] i-respeto nila yung mga ganoong klaseng activity," he said.

"Let's maintain yung peace, tranquility ng Libingan ng mga Bayani... look mali talaga e. May time for everything pero that particular time hindi na tama yun, mali na yun, foul na yun," Hao added.

Hao said police personnel were deployed to handle the protesters peacefully and that there were no untoward incidents during the rally.

He said only the loud sound system of the leftist groups disturbed the solemn burial in honor of Canieso and his family while at the hero's cemetery.

"Walang gulong nangyari except maingay pero remember, Libingan ng mga Bayani yun, libingan, national shrine natin. I think that's not fair. I think that's an insult, kabastusan sa pamilya ng namatay... I think hindi naman tama yun," Hao said.

The Army official said the police reported to him that the militants arrived at LNMB before 10 a.m., or just as Canieso's remains arrived at the Villamor Air Base.

Hao noted, that while the rally did not delay the burial rites, there is a right time and venue for militant groups to air their grievances.

"Our appeal is if you want to do that, ganyang mag-air kayo ng grievances, mayroon tamang lugar. Mayroong tamang oras, not during the... biro mo naka-formation yung sundalo, may pamilya doon, tapos guguluhin mo ng ganoon. Hindi naman tama yun," Hao said.

Canieso served as the Army's Commanding General from February 28, 1986 to July 1, 1987 during the administration of the former President Corazon Aquino. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/RSJ, GMA News