Rep. Rene Lopez Relampagos lauds Filipino youth for leading the protests against the sneaky burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

As the world celebrates the International Day for Human Rights, Relampagos expressed his admiration to the millennials who have expressed their opposition towards the burial of the dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, in empathy towards the many victims of human rights violations and abuses during the Martial Law. Millennials flocked Luneta and the EDSA People Power Monument in protests held last November 25 and November 30, respectively, holding witty placards that speak of their disdain to the decision of both the Supreme Court and President Rodrigo Duterte.

Congressman Relampagos finds the response of the millennials inspiring, saying that this generation of young Filipinos chose not to forget the atrocities committed by the Marcos patriarch and his family while in power and continue to fight for justice for those who have become victims of the injustices that was rampant during the Martial Law.

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights in the 15th Congress, the very congress that passed Republic Act 10368 or Compensation Act to Victims of Human Rights Violations, I am very pleased that our millennials rallied for the cause of our brothers and sisters who have endured during the Martial Law years,” Relampagos said.

“It is heartwarming to see them march across the streets calling for justice, remembering history, and standing up for the victims of Martial Law and their families. We see a glimmer of hope brightly shining in our young Filipinos.”

Relampagos also shunned critics who called out the millennials as simply following the trend, joining protests without fully understanding the cause.

“I believe many individuals have undermined the capacity of our youth to be critical thinkers. In this day and age when information is everywhere, for these millennials to go against the Marcoses and the burial of the late dictator based on reliable and verifiable information is not following a trend but a product of their convictions, critical thought, and love of country.”

He pointed out how many pro-Marcoses feel like they are the “enlightened” while those who are against the burial of the dictator are those trapped in the shadow of a biased past, continuously hindering the nation from moving on.

“If we think of them as merely superficial individuals who are merely jumping into the bandwagon devoid of understanding, then we must also ask ourselves: What have we done? What have our schools and teachers done? What have we done as a society to ensure that we do not turn a blind eye on these atrocities? Will we also say the same if these children share the same sentiments as we do?” Relampagos expressed.

75,730 persons have filed in the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) their claims as human rights violations victims of martial rule or as next of kin of victims who have suffered, died or disappeared during those dark years under dictator Ferdinand Marcos by May 2015.