MESSAGE – LNMB vs. MARCOS

(Read at the Philippine Embassy Rally on September 7, 2016)

by

Tina M. Maynigo

We speak as former refugees from the Marcos dictatorship. My father, Raul Manglapus, founded the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) to influence the US government to withdraw support for the Marcos dictatorship.  Manglapus found it hard to change the US policy toward Marcos because the prevailing political, military, industrial, complex were hesitant to disappoint a supposed war hero.  Because of this perception, Manglapus organized a committee led by Colonel Bonifacio Gillego and Dr. Gaston Ortigas to research the truth about Marcos.

They discovered the following:

1. his medals were fake;

2. he was a fake hero, his war exploits were all fabricated;

3. his  Maharlika claims were adjudged to be false and criminal;

4. his regime committed human rights violations and atrocities; and

5. Marcos and his cronies plundered the country.

During this same period, both the New York Times and the Washington Post conducted the same investigation of Marcos and his fake medals and reached the same conclusion.

The 1986 Edsa people power revolution ousted Marcos from office.  He was removed as President and Commander in Chief by a sovereign act of the people.  This sovereign act is a higher act than an act by a military tribunal or a civilian tribunal.  It cannot be questioned because once a revolution succeeds, then it becomes legitimate and valid.  The 1987 constitution is based on the edsa revolt.

You cannot change that act without invalidating the constitution.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regulation states that if you are a medal of valor awardee while you are in the military and after you retire you join the government and while in government you are dishonorably discharged for an offense, you are no longer qualified to be buried in the Libingan ny mga Bayani (LNMB)

Marcos was not a medal of valor awardee.  His medals were fake.  He is not a hero,  And he was ousted from office by a sovereign act of the people.  AFP regulations clearly disqualify him from being buried in LNMB. 

Our stand is based on facts not emotion.  We oppose the Marcos Burial at LIbingan ng mga Bayani!