MANILA - The presence of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos "degraded" the celebration of the 122nd anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin in Quezon City, a group of artists and media practitioners said Thursday.

Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI), in a statement, questioned Marcos' role as the event's guest speaker.

"What is Imee Marcos doing in an event that celebrates the people's heroism? She is not only the daughter of the dictator. She herself has blood in her hands," the group said, citing the case of Archimedes Trajano, who questioned Imee's capacity to lead the Kabataang Barangay at a public forum in August 1977.

After a month, Trajano's bloodied body was discovered on a street in Manila.

"Her presence in Pugad Lawin is a desecration of the sacred grounds where Andres Bonifacio once stood with the revolutionaries to proclaim their independence. Once more, it diminishes our collective efforts to fight for justice and emancipation from greed and avarice," the group added.

LODI said Marcos' increased publicity is due to the fact that she is a prospective administration bet for senator.

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"She wants to run for a Senate seat, thus her current public visibility. We cannot, should not allow that to happen," it said. "We at LODI urge Filipinos to remain vigilant and oppose any attempts by the family of the thieving dictator to rule the nation once more."

Marcos on Tuesday drew criticism after she said Filipinos who continue to rail against her family should move on from the Martial Law era of her father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

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"The millennials have moved on to other problems. I certainly hope that politicians, even those who are older or at my age (will) move on to learn the lessons of political unity, reconciliation, and ultimately, forgiveness," she said.