Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday lashed out at Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for branding as “temperamental brats” those protesting the hero’s burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

“Brats? I don’t think they are brats,” Pimentel told a press briefing when sought for comment on Andanar’s statement.

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“Anyway of course, this is a very emotional issue but they are not brats. Actually a lot of protesters are coming from the poorer segments of society. They can never be called brats. These are actually principled positions, principled stand.”

“So Martin Andanar should review his history,” Pimentel added.

In his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Andanar likened Filipinos protesting against the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to those marching in the streets of America against their new elected president Donald Trump.

“Both the Americans protesting the outcome of a fair election and the Filipinos objecting to the well-considered ruling of our own Supreme Court are undermining institutions. They are temperamental brats refusing to concede to the outcome of regular processes,” Andanar wrote in the said column.

Pimentel was among those who opposed Marcos’ burial at the heroes’ cemetery, saying the former leader was not a hero.

He said he would raise the issue when he meets with President Rodrigo Duterte this Monday night to convince him to reconsider his order to bury Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery.

Asked if thinks the President would still change his mind, Pimentel said: “Well habang may buhay, may pag asa (As long as there is life, there is hope).”

Voting 9-5-1, the Supreme Court junked a petition by anti-Marcos groups and personalities to block the President’s order. RAM/rga

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