MANILA, Philippines - A day after the remains of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos were buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, his widow Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and the rest of the family led some 2,000 supporters in paying respects to the ousted dictator at his gravesite.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said Mrs. Marcos and supporters arrived at the Libingan on board some 100 vehicles at about 7 a.m.
The late dictator’s son and namesake, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., apologized for the surprise burial of his father during a mass, a GMA-7 report said.
He said they had to keep the burial secret as anti-Marcos groups were reportedly planning to crash the funeral.
In remarks, Marcos daughter Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said those who wanted to disturb the funeral were “noisy, look sickly and yellowish.”
“Most probably, the Marcos family and their supporters have permits from the military as they are allowed entry into the LNMB which is tightly secured at the moment,” said Albayalde, the commander of Task Force LNMB for Marcos burial.
Albayalde said supporters of the Marcos family, who arrived on board buses and private vehicles, claimed they paid for their own transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
Imee said no other activities were arranged for the supporters, who were expected to leave the heroes’ cemetery by 5 p.m.
By 4:30 pm, only around 300 visitors remained at the Libingan. Security was tight in the vicinity.
On Friday, the nation was jolted by news that the remains of the late strongman had been flown from Batac, Ilocos Norte for burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The younger Marcos, who spoke for the family during the high noon burial, said it was his father’s dying wish that he be buried in a simple soldier’s ceremony at the Libingan.
“This was in keeping with his idea that he was but a soldier doing his duty, a citizen serving his country,” Marcos said of his father.
“But we are here today and we are able to grant him that wish. In keeping with his desires, we will keep this ceremony simple and it is left to the family and I speak in their behalf, on behalf of the Marcos family, to thank all those who actually helped and made this day a reality,” he told supporters at the burial rites.
He also thanked President Duterte, the Supreme Court and Marcos loyalists for making the Libingan interment possible.
“We thank all the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who have here come to pay their last respects to their former commander-in-chief. We thank all the members of the Philippine National Police for the support that they have given us in this ceremony that we are having today. And to the Filipino people for their continuing support of my father’s dream of unity and progress for our country.”
He also appealed for unity now that his father’s remains had been laid to rest.
“Let us be the heroes that my father asked us all to be and finally bring the Filipino nation together and finally bring the Filipinos to greatness,” he said.
Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the Marcoses made the right move when they kept the burial secret.
In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said that Marcos’ burial at the Libingan would have been marred by violence had the Marcoses announced it to the public.
“It was right. It would have been (marred with trouble) if it was publicly announced prior to the burial. He deserved a dignified and military honor being a former president and a decorated military,” Estrada said.
Estrada called on those opposed to Marcos’ burial at the Libingan to “respect the dead.”
“He was already dead and as a Christian country dominated by Catholics, the Filipinos should respect the dead regardless of their political leanings,” Estrada said. The former president also called on the people to stay calm.
“I call on all the Filipinos to keep calm and be Christian enough to respect the dead,” Estrada said. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Perseus Echeminada