- Title: Filipinos march in Manila to protest dictator's divisive burial
- Date: 25th November 2016
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (NOVEMBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS MARCHING WHILE HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "NO HONOUR FOR A TYRANT #MARCOSNOHERO" PROTESTERS HOLDING UMBRELLAS, BANNERS AND PLACARDS GATHERED AT RIZAL PARK VARIOUS OF WOMAN DRESSED AS WIFE OF PHILIPPINE DICTATOR, IMELDA MARCOS, KISSING EFFIGY OF PHILIPPINE DICTATOR, FERDINAND MARCOS PROTESTER SPEAKING ON STAGE VARIOUS OF CHEERING PROTESTERS WITH FACE PAINT READING (English): "MARCOS NO HERO" (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW PATRIOTIC ALLIANCE SECRETARY-GENERAL, RENATO REYES, SAYING: "And we believe that the alliance between President Duterte and Marcos is so wrong. It is unacceptable. It has to end because if it does not, then Duterte is, in fact, aiding in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Marcoses, he is aiding in their attempts to return to power, to return to Malacanang." PROTESTER SPEAKING ON STAGE HUGE CROWD WATCHING PROTESTERS HOLDING POSTERS SHOWING PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT DUTERTE, MARCOS AND A PUPPY VARIOUS OF POSTERS SHOWING PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT DUTERTE, MARCOS AND A PUPPY (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) PROTESTER AND POLITICIAN WHO WAS IMPRISONED DURING MARTIAL LAW, SATUR OCAMPO, SAYING: "This comes as a slap on the face of the victims of martial law. It comes as a repudiation of the decision of the people of the Philippines that rejected and ousted Marcos in February 25, 1986." CROWD OF PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS, POSTERS AND WAVING FLAGS MEN HOLDING MOCK COFFIN OF MARCOS IN CROWD MOCK COFFIN OF MARCOS CROWD CHANTING (Filipino): "DIG HIM UP" WOMAN CHANTING AND HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): "NEVER FORGET. NEVER AGAIN" PROTESTERS CHANTING MEN HOLDING PLACARDS READING (Filipino): "DUTERTE, TRAITOR. LAPDOG OF A DICTATOR" AND "MARCOS SHOULD BE IN THE TRASH" VARIOUS OF CARICATURES OF DUTERTE AS A LAPDOG AND IMELDA MARCOS
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 14:30
- Keywords: Philippines protest Ferdinand Marcos burial
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00159XYTS5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Filipinos demonstrated in Manila on Friday (November 25) against last week's burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a heroes' cemetery, showing disdain for the veneration afforded to a strongman accused of widespread plunder and brutality.
Those persecuted during martial law under Marcos joined students and activists, in what was a subdued show of anger at a burial with military honours that was kept under wraps until just a few hours beforehand.
Marcos ruled the Philippines for 20 years, imposing martial law in 1972 and governing by decree in what was one of the darkest chapters of the country's history.
At the peak, about 10,000 rallied in the capital's Rizal Park on Friday, many under umbrellas following an afternoon of rain. They held banners and placards saying "Marcos no hero" and "You can't bury the truth".
"This comes as a slap on the face of the victims of martial law. It comes as a repudiation of the decision of the people of the Philippines that rejected and ousted Marcos in February 25, 1986," said Satur Ocampo, a left-wing lawmaker who was imprisoned during the Martial Law.
President Rodrigo Duterte had called for the burial, 27 years after Marcos's death, arguing that as a former military man and head of state, he met the criteria for a place in the heroes' cemetery.
The family remains a highly influential political force and has relentlessly pushed for the burial of Marcos in what critics say is an attempt to clear his name.
Judges on the Supreme Court on November 8 ruled 9-5 in favour of throwing out petitions against the burial.
Duterte was not in Manila on Friday. He said though he did not share the sentiment of the protesters, but would not try to stop them.
Tens of thousands of suspected communist rebels and political foes were killed before Marcos's 1986 ouster in a "people's power" revolt. He died in exile in Hawaii three years later.
In 1986, a commission was created to recover the Marcos family's wealth, which was estimated at $10 billion worth of property, cash, stocks, jewellery and pieces of art. It has, so far, recovered about half.
The body of Marcos was until last week kept in a mausoleum in his home province. Successive governments blocked the burial because they were either led by opponents of Marcos or had bowed to public pressure. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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