Why is this major highway named after Marcos?

President Aquino has decided that the remains of  Ferdinand Marcos should not be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the late dictator does not deserve full military honors. He has given his final word on the matter before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the strongman’s son, criticized President Aquino on the issue of Marcos’ burial. He said that the President missed the opportunity to unify the nation by refusing to have his father’s remains interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and by denying him full military honors.

The truth is that the Marcos family is not in step with the majority of our countrymen: The Marcoses refuse to admit that martial rule was bad for the country. They refuse to admit that many Filipinos suffered during the dictator’s rule. Sad to say, the victims have not yet been formally recognized by the government as victims. No apology has been issued from and neither have they been compensated by their own government, as admitted by President Aquino.

In view of this, Marcos Highway, which stretches through Marikina, Pasig, Cainta and Antipolo, should be named after another Filipino more deserving of such honor than the dictator. Imagine, naming a major road after a man who replaced the democratic government with his personal rule! We will earn the ire of future generations of Filipinos if we will not expunge the name “Marcos” from this major roadway.

The National Historical Commission and the relevant government agencies should take the initiative in renaming Marcos Highway.

—QUINTIN GOMEZ,
Barangay San Agustin,
San Fernando, Pampanga