Sneaking The Funeral Of Former President Marcos

So finally, the remains of Former Philippine Ferdinand Marcos have been laid to rest in the Libingan ng mga Bayani or Hero’s Burial.

It was a surprise. Some call it sneaking funeral. It’s totally hidden to the people not until the corpse of Marcos was flown through helicopter from his hometown Batac, Ilocos Norte to Libngan ng mga Bayani. It was just at that moment the people got aware that the funeral is actually happening, afternoon of November 18, 2016. The family members of the late president were present; from his widowed wife former First Lady Imelda Marcos; Governor Imee Marcos; former Senator and lost presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and other families and relatives and selected friends.

That was a sneaking funeral for the president whom his detractors have been into many sneaking moments: sneaking going to Hawaii during the EDSA People’s Power Revolt; sneaking the money of the country.

The opposition mostly the victims of the said to be Human Rights during his presidency came late into the news. The funeral is already happening, the mass and then the 21 gun salute. The opposition immediately organized the protests and rallies… too late the heroes. The funeral finished and the president they hated so much fulfilled his last wish. Then all can do now is squeaking and talking and airing their hate, dismay, protest and shouting to what had happened.

But it was not only the anti-Marcos were present. The pro-Marcos or Marcos loyalists are also in the venue fighting for their beloved former president.

President Rody Duterte who happens to be in favor of the said funeral was not in the Philippines. He was in Lima, Peru for official business.

The sneaking funeral came after the decision of Supreme Court favoring the burial of the former president to LNMB. But there was no detail yet as to when the burial may be happen. All what is known from the family is their plan of just simple funeral. Aside from that, there was no laid plan as to when the funeral may happen. Putting the anti-Marcos in hanging situation.

But I think there is a good thing on that situation. We escape the possible tension between the angry anti-Marcos group, the supporting Marcos loyalists, and the securing and just fulfilling duty of the government officers and personnel.

Just think a heavy struggle and tension between these group, it will spoil the funeral’s essence when that happen. Maybe this is the consideration of the Marcos family why they hide the burial of the late president. At least, aside from protests and rallies now, there was no pushing, punching, screaming and shooting among the people against or supporting the late strongman. And maybe this is the reason it was timely President Duterte is in Peru while the burial is happening. He can escape the heating situation.

Of course, this does not end there. We will know there are more stories to come even after the burial. So now we know who is the real newsmaker and kingmaker of the Philippines.

It’s so happen, though the Marcos loyalists are shouting to the anti’s to move on and heal the past and let there be unity, the opposition are also shouting for justice first.