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Rodrigo Duterte will allow Philippines dictator Marcos a hero's burial Rodrigo Duterte will allow Philippines dictator Marcos a hero's burial | |
(4 months later) | |
Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos will be allowed a hero’s burial, the nation’s controversial incoming president has said, in what would be a huge win for the late strongman’s family as it pursues a return to power. | Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos will be allowed a hero’s burial, the nation’s controversial incoming president has said, in what would be a huge win for the late strongman’s family as it pursues a return to power. |
Rodrigo Duterte also said he would pardon ex-president Gloria Arroyo, who is being detained at a military hospital while on trial for graft and vote fraud. | Rodrigo Duterte also said he would pardon ex-president Gloria Arroyo, who is being detained at a military hospital while on trial for graft and vote fraud. |
The announcements by Duterte, who takes office on 30 June, are sure to enrage critics who warned ahead of his landslide election win on 9 May that he was a dictator in the making with no regard for the rule of law. | The announcements by Duterte, who takes office on 30 June, are sure to enrage critics who warned ahead of his landslide election win on 9 May that he was a dictator in the making with no regard for the rule of law. |
Speaking in his hometown of Davao, Duterte said he was prepared to risk nationwide unrest on the flashpoint issues surrounding two of the nation’s most controversial figures. | Speaking in his hometown of Davao, Duterte said he was prepared to risk nationwide unrest on the flashpoint issues surrounding two of the nation’s most controversial figures. |
“I will allow protests,” Duterte said when asked about the expected reaction. | “I will allow protests,” Duterte said when asked about the expected reaction. |
Duterte said he would grant the long-standing wish of the Marcos family to have the patriarch buried at a Manila cemetery for some of the nation’s most revered war heroes. | Duterte said he would grant the long-standing wish of the Marcos family to have the patriarch buried at a Manila cemetery for some of the nation’s most revered war heroes. |
“I will allow the burial of Marcos in the Heroes’ Cemetery, not because he was a hero but because he was a Filipino soldier,” Duterte told reporters. | “I will allow the burial of Marcos in the Heroes’ Cemetery, not because he was a hero but because he was a Filipino soldier,” Duterte told reporters. |
Marcos and his family fled to US exile in 1986 after millions took to the streets in a famous “People Power” revolution. | Marcos and his family fled to US exile in 1986 after millions took to the streets in a famous “People Power” revolution. |
Marcos, who was accused of overseeing massive widespread human rights abuses and plundering $10bn from state coffers, died three years later in Hawaii. | Marcos, who was accused of overseeing massive widespread human rights abuses and plundering $10bn from state coffers, died three years later in Hawaii. |
His embalmed body is now stored in a crypt at the family home in the northern Philippines. | His embalmed body is now stored in a crypt at the family home in the northern Philippines. |
His son and namesake has led a remarkable political comeback for the family, rising to become a senator in 2010 and running for the vice-presidency in the latest elections. | His son and namesake has led a remarkable political comeback for the family, rising to become a senator in 2010 and running for the vice-presidency in the latest elections. |
Marcos Jnr is currently in second place in the tally count and is likely to lose narrowly to Leni Robredo. | Marcos Jnr is currently in second place in the tally count and is likely to lose narrowly to Leni Robredo. |
However, at 58, he is still young enough to achieve his goal of becoming president. | However, at 58, he is still young enough to achieve his goal of becoming president. |
The Marcos clan has insisted the late ruler deserves to be buried at the cemetery, arguing he was a second world war hero for resisting the Japanese occupiers. | The Marcos clan has insisted the late ruler deserves to be buried at the cemetery, arguing he was a second world war hero for resisting the Japanese occupiers. |
However, American and local historians have disputed his military credentials. | However, American and local historians have disputed his military credentials. |
Duterte said allowing Marcos to be buried at the cemetery did not necessarily make him a hero, pointing out other soldiers without gloried reputations were also there. | Duterte said allowing Marcos to be buried at the cemetery did not necessarily make him a hero, pointing out other soldiers without gloried reputations were also there. |
But current president Benigno Aquino, whose parents led the democracy movement against Marcos, did not allow the burial, arguing it would be the “height of injustice”. | But current president Benigno Aquino, whose parents led the democracy movement against Marcos, did not allow the burial, arguing it would be the “height of injustice”. |
Duterte also said on Monday that he believed Arroyo, who has been detained since 2011, should be free. | Duterte also said on Monday that he believed Arroyo, who has been detained since 2011, should be free. |
“I’m ready to grant a pardon to Arroyo. Arroyo to my mind should already be released,” Duterte said of the president from 2001 to 2010. | “I’m ready to grant a pardon to Arroyo. Arroyo to my mind should already be released,” Duterte said of the president from 2001 to 2010. |