THE Philippine Army has slammed leftist activists from the League of Filipino Students for supposedly disrespecting the full-honor burial of one of its commanding generals at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Army spokesman Colonel Benjamin Hao said around 60 to 70 LFS members staged a rally in front of the gate, very near where the ceremonial honors were being given to the late army chief major general Rodolfo Canieso.
“There was ceremony for General Canieso,” Hao said. “He was being buried and there came this bunch of protesters who were shouting and using a loudspeaker at a cemetery,” Hao lamented.
“They had a loud system. They even had a program at the cemetery. Although they also left after a few minutes, they disrupted honors being given to a former general who also served the country,” Hao said, adding that the protesters only left after the police persuaded them to leave the cemetery.
“We respect their right to air whatever grievance they may have but they should also respect our right to honor our dead. They should respect that kind of activity. Let’s maintain the peace and tranquility of the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“There’s a time for everything. And that was not really the time to do that. That is disrespect for the family. That is lack of respect for Filipino tradition,” he added.
Canieso died Saturday at the age of 84. He was the first Army chief during the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino. After he retired from the service, he was appointed National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general.