Lobregat, Climaco Lead Simple Freedom Day Ceremony In Zamboanga

Above, a tribute to Filipino hero Jose Rizal on bronze marker in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte where he was jailed, and below, his young images. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga City / 12 Jun) Mayor Celso Lobregat and his deputy Maria Isabelle Climaco led local government and military officials on a simple wreath-laying on a monument of national hero Jose Rizal in Monday's 108th Independence Day celebration.

For the first time, organizers have used traffic aides, instead of uniformed soldiers or policemen, as side honors during the wreath-laying ceremony. Security was also tight because of threats posed by Abu Sayyaf militants who previously bombed Zamboanga City.

Hundreds of civil employees, members of the police and military and students participated in a parade here, but some World War II veterans said they were not invited in the celebration for still unknown reasons.

Local officials and organizers were not immediately available to make comments. Yesterday's scene was traditional and no tributes were made to the veterans, now numbering a few from dozens in the past years.

Civil and military parades were also reported elsewhere in the country. President Gloria Arroyo led the celebration at the Rizal Park in Manila and was attended by thousands of Filipinos.

The Philippines was a former colony of Spain which ruled the country for more than 350 years until June 12, 1898, and Rizal, who was a key figure in the Filipino revolution, was executed by musketry by the Spaniards after serving jail terms in Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte province.