Duterte gives go ahead for Marcos burial at heroes’ cemetery

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine president has given the go-ahead for the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at a heroes’ cemetery and says he’ll allow anti-Marcos protesters to hold public demonstrations against the move.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday that Marcos is qualified to be buried at the military-run cemetery as a soldier and as a former president. He disclosed that he once voted for Marcos as president and that his late father, a politician, had served in Marcos’s Cabinet.

Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said Marcos family representatives have gone to the cemetery to pick a burial site and make initial preparations ahead of final arrangements.

The Philippine Star has quoted Marcos’s son and namesake, former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, as saying that the planned burial may take place on Sept. 18.