Marcos opponents want buried dictator’s remains exhumed
Protesters in the Philippines launched legal action on November 21 to exhume the body of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, just three days after his official burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila which triggered street protests.
He was laid to rest on November 18 in a secretive ceremony at the cemetery with military honours almost three decades after his death, angering critics who accuse Marcos of massive corruption and human rights abuses during his reign.
Relatives of victims of his rule asked the Supreme Court to dig up his remains, claiming they had not been given enough time to appeal a ruling allowing his burial. They also want the court to hold his heirs and officials involved responsible for carrying out the burial before the court had heard final appeals against it.
Former lawmaker Saturnino Ocampo and other activists urged the court to hold Marcos’ widow Imelda, their three children, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and two military officials in contempt for “the hasty, shady and tricky” burial of the president at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, however, has defended the burial, saying laws entitled Marcos to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery as a former president and soldier. An emotional widow Imelda said her dead husband was “at peace” there.
But activists insisted on an exhumation, also to determine whether Marcos’ remains were not a wax replica.
Protesters in the Philippines launched legal action on November 21 to exhume the body of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, just three days after his official burial at the Heroes' Cemetery in Manila which triggered street protests. He was laid to rest on November 18 in a secretive ceremony at the cemetery with military honours almost three decades after his death, angering critics who accuse Marcos of massive corruption and human rights abuses during his reign. Relatives of victims of his rule asked the Supreme Court to dig up his remains, claiming they had not been given enough time to appeal...
Protesters in the Philippines launched legal action on November 21 to exhume the body of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, just three days after his official burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila which triggered street protests.
He was laid to rest on November 18 in a secretive ceremony at the cemetery with military honours almost three decades after his death, angering critics who accuse Marcos of massive corruption and human rights abuses during his reign.
Relatives of victims of his rule asked the Supreme Court to dig up his remains, claiming they had not been given enough time to appeal a ruling allowing his burial. They also want the court to hold his heirs and officials involved responsible for carrying out the burial before the court had heard final appeals against it.
Former lawmaker Saturnino Ocampo and other activists urged the court to hold Marcos’ widow Imelda, their three children, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and two military officials in contempt for “the hasty, shady and tricky” burial of the president at the Heroes’ Cemetery.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, however, has defended the burial, saying laws entitled Marcos to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery as a former president and soldier. An emotional widow Imelda said her dead husband was “at peace” there.
But activists insisted on an exhumation, also to determine whether Marcos’ remains were not a wax replica.
