By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Mildred Henando, a
volunteer barangay health worker in Dingras, Ilocos Norte is less likely visible
to her constituents in the next three to four days as she joined thousands of
supporters in appealing to the Supreme Court to favor the burial of former
President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Wearing a white shirt with
Mr. Marcos’ printed photo and a hash tag “Para sa kapayapaan, ilibing na”, her
deep voice boomed as she held a microphone with loud speaker while on board a
white mini cab occupying the major thoroughfares of the Mania North Road from
Paoay, Ilocos Norte to Metro Manila.
The four-day caravan which
kicked off in Ilocos Norte on October 14 aims to “show unity of the Solid North
and awaken public consciousness that the former president deserves to be
buried,” said Arnulfo Morales Jr., a die-hard Marcos loyalist from Cebu City
who is one of those overseeing the smooth flow of the caravan with mini stops
and prayer vigils in some selected churches along the way.
In a surprise visit,
President Rodrigo R. Duterte arrived at the Laoag International Airport on the
afternoon of October 14 as he met with Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda Josefa
“Imee” R. Marcos and the other mayors here.
Inside the airport where
reporters were not allowed, the governor said, “Suportado naman tayo ng ating Presidente [The President supports
us]. It’s a matter of law na malibing ang
tatay ko sa [that my father is buried at the] Libingan. Sana makinig ang [Hopefully, the]
Supreme Court [would listen]. Palibhasa
nakinig naman sila sa mga nagpropotest, makinig rin naman sa ating
dumadaing…para patas lang. [Since they listened to those protesting against
the burial, they should also listen to us who wants the burial to be fair]”.
Based on a raw video footage
of Mr. Duterte’s 10-minute meeting with local officials here, he stood firm in
his earlier position over the issue. “Para
sa akin [For me], it’s a matter of law. As a lawyer, it’s very clear to me
that my decision is right and I could only speak to what is the law,” Mr.
Duterte said backing the burial of the late Mr. Marcos at the Libingan.
“Pero kung talagang magka-ano…then I will intervene. I will fly to
be here immediately should there be untoward incident,” Mr. Duterte added as he
assured the police and military are on top of the situation to keep everybody
safe.
Prior to the staging of the
caravan, some of the Marcos supporters trooped to the Laoag airport with
streamers and banners welcoming the President. The crowd waiting for him
outside the airport however were a bit disappointed when they learned the
President flew immediately to Davao after his visit to Batanes and a short
stopover in Laoag to meet with local authorities here.
“Our PSG is very strict at pinagbawalan nga ang lahat na pumasok sa
loob. Medyo dismayado nga pero imbitahan na lang kaya natin ng properly at hindi lang stop over [and they
disallowed everyone else to enter he area where Mr. Duterte is. A bit
disappointed but we should just invite the President properly and not settle
for a mere stopover],” said Ms. Marcos saying the President was supposed to
visit Tarlac but he opted to have a stopover in Laoag to personally meet with
the widows of police officers here who had fallen due to the drug war.
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