HONOLULU, Hawaii (via PLDT) -- At least 100 Marcos loyalists yesterday held a peace rally here for President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to reconsider his decision not to allow the state burial for the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

In the name of national reconciliation, members of the “Marcos for Peace Movement” held their rally at Waipahu Intermediate School, a Filipino-dominated residential area here, while President Aquino is currently attending the 19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting.

However, the group chairman, Ric Agnes, was quick to clarify that they are “not Marcos loyalists” but only seeking a genuine reconciliation between the Marcoses and Aquinos.

“We’re here for reconciliation, we’re not (Marcos) loyalists,” Agnes told reporters.

But Agnes admitted that he worked with the previous Marcos administration and settled here in 1986.

The group appealed to President Aquino to “rise above partisanship and personal vendetta by allowing the body of the late President Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani with full military honors.” 

“(President) Aquino should heed the voice of the majority of Filipinos, and lay to rest any personal retribution. Personal rancor and bitterness is divisive and detrimental to the social, educational, business and political life of the Filipinos,” they said. 

“We believe that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness by doing a course of action to work for the peace negotiating process and hold peace talks for the ultimate reconciliation of the of the two prominent political figures,” the group added. 

In a press briefing at Ala Moana Hotel here, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed belief that President Aquino will not change his mind not to give military honors and Libingan ng mga Bayani burial for the late President.