Ex-Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who died on September 28 1989, can be given a hero’s burial, the Supreme Court decided on Tuesday in a hugely controversial ruling which critics said would whitewash his crimes and divide the nation. “There is no law that prohibits the burial,” court spokesman Theodore Te said as he read a summary of the judgement. Hundreds of Marcos supporters outside the Supreme Court cheered. But opponents who had petitioned the court to reject the plan staged a rally nearby and voiced deep anger. Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International in 2004 had named Marcos, who ruled Philippines for two decades, the second most corrupt leader of all time, behind Indonesian dictator Suharto.

Source: The Hindu November 08, 2016 19:51 UTC