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.