Philippines: Marcos family hold vigil at dictator’s tomb amid protests

In this photo provided by the Office of the Army Chief Public Affairs Headquarters Philippine Army (OACPA HPA), soldiers prepare to fold the flag-draped casket of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos during his burial at the Heroes' Cemetery in Taguig City, Philippines, on Friday, Nov 18. Pic: AP.

 19th November 2016

FAMILY members and followers of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos have gathered for a vigil at his tomb a day after his secrecy-shrouded burial at the country’s Heroes’ Cemetery triggered protests.

Marcos’ widow Imelda, clad in black, thanked supporters and local officials of Marcos’ northern home province who traveled by bus to pay their respects.

She said they had given her family strength as they kept the hope for nearly 30 years to have him buried at the national cemetery.

According to Rappler in the Philippines, the crowd at the vigil was at least 2,000-strong, with many supporters arriving as early as 7.30am for the event.

The report quoted the pro-Marcos groups as saying that they even rented vehicles and organized the trip to Manila, all on their own.

SEE ALSO: Despite protests, Philippine dictator Marcos gets buried at heroes’ cemetery

Tensions in the Southeast Asian nation’s capital were running high Friday after it was made known that Marcos’ burial at the heroes’ cemetery would proceed at noon.

Some accused the Marcos family of hiding the information, saying the burial was being carried out, “like a thief in the night”.

The enraged pro-democracy activists also said the decades-long debate over the ex-president’s final resting place was far from over and protested across the metropolis on Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who gave the go-ahead for the burial, appealed for calm, however.

SEE ALSO: Filipinos gather in the hundreds to protest hero’s burial for dictator Ferdinand Marcos

A report by CNN Philippines Friday quoted the leader as saying he hoped Filipinos would be able to accept the burial decision.

Duterte, who was speaking from Peru, also urged those who had been hurt in some way by the Marcos regime to file a case instead.

“I would like to pray that everybody will find a space in his heart for forgiveness, and for those who have been somehow hurt or injured that they can take some other option to file a case,” he was quoted as saying.

Marcos had headed a dictatorship that became infamous for corruption and brutality, as well as extreme luxury on his and his family’s part.

His 21-year term, which started in 1965, saw the Philippine national debt grow exponentially from US$2 billion to nearly US$30 billion. He also placed the country under martial law.

He fled the Philippines after a revolution in 1986, died in exile in 1989 and his body has been preserved and on display in his family stronghold of Ilocos Norte in northwest Philippines since last year.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press