President Rodrigo Duterte will respect Congress’ decision on the proposal to declare Sept. 11 a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Malacañang said on Thursday.
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Wednesday House Bill 7137, which aims to declare a “President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day” in Ilocos Norte every Sept. 11.
“Iyan naman po ay katungkulan ng Kongreso, rirespetuhin po kung anong magiging desisyon ng Kongreso,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.
The bill was authored by Probinsyano Ako Representative Rodolfo Fariñas and Ilocos Norte representatives Ria Fariñas and Angelo Marcos Barba.
‘Not a cause for celebration’
Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat, who casted a no vote, deplored the proposal, saying it was unnecessary to celebrate a dictator’s birth.
“Anong klaseng pag-iisip nito na dapat kailangan ipagdiwang ang isang magnanakaw ng kaban ng bayan at mamamatay-tao? Ito ay napakalaking kalapastangan ng ating kasaysayan,” Cullamat said in a statement.
“Hindi nito nirerespeto ang hatol ng kasaysayan at ang mga biktima ng Martial Law ni Marcos. Hindi kailanman makakalimutan ng taongbayan ang ginawang kahayupan at kalapastangan ng panahon ni Marcos,” Cullamat added.
Kabataan party-list also issued a statement denouncing the “Marcos holiday” bill.
“Napakalaking kalapastanganan nito sa ating bansa at sa ating kasaysayan. Bakit natin ipagdiriwang ang kapanganakan ng isang diktador, pasista na may daan daang libong pinaslang na mamamayang Pilipino kabilang ang mga kabataan? Bakit natin ipagdiriwang ang kapanganakan ng isang magnanakaw na nagbulsa ng bilyones na pera ng bayan?” it said in a statement.
Bayan Muna representative Carlos Zarate also condemned the bill’s authors’ attempt to revise history.
“Huwag nating hayaan itong itinutulak na rebisyonismo na gustong pabanguhin ang pangalan ng mga Marcos…. Naitala na sa kasaysayan na si Marcos ay hindi bayani, siya ay diktador, siya ay mandarambong, siya ay mamamatay-tao at hindi ito mabubura lamang sa pamamagitan ng ganitong paglalabas ng isang batas,” Zarate said in a virtual presser.
In 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 310, which declared Sept. 11, 2017 a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to mark Marcos’ birth anniversary.
It was under Duterte’s presidency when Marcos’ remains were transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani. John Ezekiel J. Hirro