Veterans Want ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ in Cebu

World War II veretans in Cebu have requested the Cebu City government officials to declare the small cemetery along A. Lopez Street in Barangay Labangon to be a ‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’.

In Manila, the Libingan ng mga Bayani or the heroes’ cemetery is located at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and most of those buried there were those who died in World War II, particularly those who died from the so-called “Death March.”

On Tuesday’s assembly of the members of the Philippine Veterans Association headed by retired Colonel Manuel Segura, the veterans reiterated their request to the city before Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella.

Labella said he supports the call of Segura and other veteran officials to declare the former  American cemetery in Labangon, situated in a few distance from the Calamba Cemetery as the Libingan ng mga Bayani for the Cebu veterans.

“Ako ni nga ipadali ang pagpahimo’g ordinansa nga maghingalan sa mao nga sam-ang diha sa Labangon nga Libingan ng mga Bayani para sa mga World War II veterans sa Cebu,” Labella said.

Segura, now 95, an American citizen and a colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines failed to say how many World War II veterans are presently living in Cebu City, but the report said there are close to 1,000 WW2 veterans in Central Visayas.

He used to be the leader of a guerilla group based in Barangay Tabunan under the leadership of American General James James Cushing.

Most of the World War II veterans are now in their 90s and many of them had already passed away, but Segura said he is still very healthy because he never forget to undergo his daily exercises to maintain his good health.