Military doubles security at LNMB for Marcos’ 100th birth anniversary

The Armed Forces of the Philippines doubled its troops deployed at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Monday morning as supporters of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos began to flock to the cemetery for his 100th birth anniversary.

According to a report by Victoria Tulad on Unang Balita, additional police, soldiers, firefighters, and ambulances entered the cemetery in preparation for the event.

Tight security at Libingan ng mga Bayani for the 100th birthday of former Pres.Marcos.Supporters from Isabela & Laguna patiently wait entry. pic.twitter.com/YxRnNKN3pI

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) September 10, 2017

Loyalists from Isabela and the Laguna chapter of Friends of Imelda Romualdez-Marcos (FIRM) were already awaiting entry to the cemetery and were coordinating with authorities to enter the LNMB at a later hour.

Marcos loyalists start to gather outside Libingan ng mga Bayani to celebrate the 100th birthday of former Pres.Ferdinand Marcos. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/eiGJBMKBAr

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) September 10, 2017

Mga taga-suporta ng pamilya Marcos mula sa hilagang Luzon, dumating na sa LNMB para sa ika-100 kaarawan ni dating Pang. Ferdinand Marcos. pic.twitter.com/ipxtxh2jMc

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 10, 2017

Families of the interred may visit the graves of their loved ones but will be confined to the area of their family.

Protesters including Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA), Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), Block Marcos, and other protest groups were expected to proceed to the LNMB.

Block Marcos is expected to organize in front of the LNMB while CARMMA and SELDA will hold a caravan to the cemetery.

Anti-Marcos groups decried President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to declare the late dictator's 100th birth anniversary a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte, a decision he supposedly made for Ilocanos.

While Duterte is unlikely to accept the invitation to the late dictator's birth celebration at the LNMB, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Sunday said he was "insulted" by the invitation as his family was one of thousands victimized by the Marcos martial law regime.

The Marcos family celebrated the National Historical Commission of the Philippines' recognition of the Marcos monument in Batac, Ilocos Norte on Sunday ahead of the late dictator's birth anniversary.

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos in a speech called her brother, ex-senator  Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., "vice president" during her speech for the event, in reference to his protest against the results of the 2016 vice presidential elections. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News