Philippines’ Duterte to allow burial of Marcos at heroes’ cemetery, says ex-president Arroyo should be released

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would allow the burial of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Philippines’ heroes’ cemetery, despite strong opposition.

The southern mayor has yet to be declared winner of the May 9 election, but an official vote count by an election commission-accredited watchdog showed him six million votes ahead of his closest rival. He is due to assume office on June 30.

“I will allow Marcos burial in Libingan ng Mga Bayani, not because he was a hero but because he was a Filipino soldier,” Duterte said in Davao City, referring to the 142-hectare cemetery in Manila where some of the country’s leaders are buried.

Marcos fled to Hawaii in 1986 following a popular revolt. He had ruled the Philippines for 20 years, during which time his family amassed an estimated $10 billion.

He died in exile in 1989 and his embalmed body is currently on display in a mausoleum in his hometown in the northern Philippines.

The government has recovered less than US$5 billion in cash, stocks, real estate, artworks and jewellery from the Marcoses and their cronies.