FORMER First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos is throwing a gathering for the birth centennial of her husband at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, and has invited her colleagues at the House of Representatives—both friends and foes.
The invitation said the gathering would be for the “commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary of President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos” on Monday at 9:30 a.m. A short program and lunch will follow, it said.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he was not aware whether President Rodrigo Duterte was invited to the gathering.
Asked if he found anything wrong with it, he said, “The Marcos family are (sic) entitled to their own event, if they want to celebrate the birth anniversary of former President Marcos, it’s up to them. We’re not connected to the Marcoses,” Andanar said.
Early this week, the President issued Proclamation 310 declaring a non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte in commemoration of the Marcos’ 100th birth anniversary.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he did not get an invitation and had no plans of going.
Two of the critics of the late dictato—Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin—received an invitation.
Since the family’s return to the country, they have been in the political scene, holding elective positions in their home province, Ilocos Norte. Imelda Marcos is serving term as a district representative and Imee Marcos, the eldest child, is current governor.
Bongbong Marcos served as senator from 2010 to 2016, before running for Vice President and losing to Leni Robredo. He has a pending electoral protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
In November 2016, Duterte ordered the burial of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan ng mga Bayani amid protests.