Call for his burial at the ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’
TACLOBAN CITY- Residents of this city joined in observing the 99th birthday of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. on Sunday (Sept.11).
The city government, led by Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez, offered a Mass for Marcos at the Santo Niño Church as a “grateful remembrance” for the late president.
Marcos’ wife, Imelda, is from Leyte.
Mayor Romualdez delivered a short speech after the Holy Mass attended by hundreds of people. Several young men and women wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with words “Para sa Pambansang Paghilum #Ilibang na.”
The city mayor extolled the late president saying that he initiated several projects and programs during his rule that up to now are being enjoyed by the people of Eastern Visayas, in particular.
Marcos, if alive today would be 99 years old, was the country’s president for 20 years.
His family and supporters have asked the national government to bury him at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” but being opposed by his political opponents and victims of human rights violations alledegely committed during his regime.
Mayor Romualdez joined in the call to give the former president a “proper burial” that he deserved being a former head of state and a soldier who served the country during the World War II.
Bernardita “Bering” Valenzuela, city information officer, said that Marcos deserves to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as he “fits” to the definition of a hero.
“If there is a definition of a hero, which is a person who has done so much for his country, then he falls on the definition,” Valenzuela said.
The Sunday mass was described by her as a “grateful remembrance of a man who did much for our city and region.”
Valenzuela, served as a personal staff of former vice president Salvador Laurel, said that Marcos initiated projects in the region that stood times.
“He really invested in our city and region. The projects that Pres. Marcos gave to our city and region (like the) San Juanico Bridge,” she said.
“Without the San Juanico Bridge, no one could take a land trip all the way from Metro Manila to Davao City,” Valenzuela added.
The structure, she added, is an “enduring testimony” on how Marcos served the region and the rest of the country well. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
