Groups try to fill supposed Marcos burial site with rocks as protest

MANILA, Philippines – Several groups on Sunday laid rocks and stones on the supposed burial site of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

Each stone laid in the open crypt was written the name of an individual who was kidnapped, tortures or murdered during Martial Law.

The activity was initiated by Bantayog, Martial Law Chronicles Project Team, UP Samasa Alumni, Claimants 1081, Akbayan Youth and Nameless Martyrs and Heroes.

Section of Libingan ng mga Bayani where the supposed burial site of former President Ferdinand Marcos is. Photo by Bubut Vasquez

Susan Quimpo of the Martial Law Chronicles Project Team said that the activity was a symbolic gesture that Martial Law victims, who are the real heroes, should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayano and not Marcos.

"Nilagay 'yung mga pangalan sa bato bilang pahiwatig na mas kailangan sila (Martial Law victims) sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. Hindi kinakailangan ilibing si Marcos," Quimpo said in a telephone interview with Philstar.com.

Quimpo said that the activity was also a call for President-elect Rodrigo Duterte not to push through with his plan to bury the dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

She added that it was the idea of Miguel Syjuco of Bantayog to use rocks as a symbolic gesture.

Quimpo expressed hopes that other people, particularly students, will also follow the "ritual" of laying rocks and post it on social media to raise awareness and to pose as a reminder of the atrocities in the Martial Law period.

Kin of Martial Law victims and other participants protest against the plan to have the Heroes' Cemetery as the final burial ground of late strongman Marcos. Photo by Susan Quimpo

Participants look over the site after laying rocks on Sunday, June 26, 2016 bearing names of victims of President Ferdinand Marcos's his iron rule. Photo by Bubut Vasquez

"This is just the start as more stones with more names are laid so that their memories shall not be forgotten. This is a public space and all are welcome to pay their respects and honor the real heroes," witness Bubut Vasquez said in his Facebook post

Syjuco, one of the leaders of the initiative, encouraged the public to go to the Libingan ng mga Bayano to fill Marcos's grave with rocks.