Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A nationwide protest will mark the first week of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The anti-Marcos groups will stage the “National Day of Unity and Rage” on Friday to protest the late strongman’s sudden burial on November 18.
The biggest gathering of anti-Marcos protesters will happen at The Burnham Park at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Students from various universities in Metro Manila and youth groups will start their protest at Mendiola, Manila at 2:30 p.m. to decry President Rodrigo Duterte’s role in the Marcos’ burial. They will proceed to Luneta after.
Students at UP Diliman, meanwhile, have created an effigy of Marcos. They also made a huge editorial cartoon on the former president’s controversial burial.
The “National Day of Unity and Rage” protests will also be staged in several parts of the country, such as parts of Metro Manila, Isabela, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, Iloilo City, Bicol, Cebu, Davao, University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Calamba, Laguna, Batangas City, and Antipolo City.
The protest is spearheaded by Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (Carmma), along with Migrante, human rights group Karapatan, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Carmma Spokesperson Boni Ilagan assured the public and authorities the protest will be peaceful.
“Huwag kaming guluhin at hindi magkakaroon ng gulo,” he said on Friday.
[Translation: As long as they won’t bother us, there won’t be any chaos.]
Ilagan said millennials were tapped to sustain the momentum of the anti-Marcos protests.
“Ang patagong paglilibing ang gumising sa kanila (millennials). I think the millennials now are realizing what the Marcoses have been trying to hide all these years,” he said.
[Translation: The stealthy burial awakened the millennials. I think the millennials are now realizing what the Marcoses have been trying to hide all these years.]
Ilagan said the series of “Black Friday” protests will continue because they aim to spread the word on the implications of the burial of a dictator at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
They called on the protesters to wear black to show their solidarity.
Related: Can Marcos’ burial at LNMB lead to ‘healing’ for PH?
The supporters of former President Marcos and President Rodrigo Duterte will also hold a rally at the Luneta — an hour earlier before the convergence of anti-Marcos protests at the same venue.
The support rally named, “Ipagtanggol Natin Ang Mga Pangulo ng Pilipinas,” want the “true silent majority” to defend the names of both Marcos and Duterte.
The Chairman of Duterte Youth, Ronald Cardema, asked their supporters to wear red.
Security preparations
The pro- and anti-Marcos protesters may meet face-to-face at the Quirino Grandstand, but the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said they are prepared if the groups clash.
“We are going to put enough personnel there so they could be separate from each other and avoid violence from the two groups,” said NCRPO Chief C/Supt. Oscar Albayalde.
He said the police will enforce maximum tolerance, but if violence happens, they will have to arrest protesters.
Albayalde told motorists there will be no alternate routes, but traffic will be managed.
“Security personnel will manage the traffic. One or two lanes will be given to motorists,” he said.
Albayalde reminded protesters that they are allowed to stage rallies in public places — with or without permits — as long as the gathering remains peaceful and will not cause inconvenience to the public.
