[JURIST] The Philippines Supreme Court [official website] ruled Tuesday that former dictator Ferdinand Marcos may be placed in the nation’s “Heroes’ Cemetery” despite public uproar denouncing the burial. In August human rights victims filed a petition [JURIST report] against the burial, stating that it undermines the nation’s democratic victory over tyranny and violates the cemetery’s regulations. Petitioners had pointed to a 1993 agreement stating that Marcos would be buried in his hometown in northern Ilocos Norte province. However, President Rodrigo Duterte had approved the controversial burial, recognizing Marcos as a commendable leader entitled to honor. The Supreme Court justices honored Duterte’s approval by a vote of 9-5 [AP report] with one abstention, acknowledging that the controversial figure was nevertheless a former legislator, defense secretary and soldier deserving of merit. While the Marcos family and its supporters praised the ruling, activists have expressed their outrage and have asked the court to reconsider its decision.

The effects of Marcos’ regime have been felt in the Philippines. In 2013 JURIST guest columnist Lara Wharton, discussed [JURIST op-ed] human rights abuses in the Philippines. Also in that year, then-Philippines President Benigno Aquino III signed [JURIST report] legislation to compensate the victims of human rights abuses committed 27 years ago under the regime of former president Marcos. In January 2013 the Philippines House of Representatives and Senate ratified the legislation to compensate [JURIST reports] approximately 10,000 victims. In 2012 the Philippine president signed [JURIST report] legislation that criminalized enforced disappearances by agents of the state, an allegedly common practice under Marcos. In April 2011 Imelda Marcos, Ferdinand Marcos’ wife, was ordered [JURIST report] to return USD $280,000 in state funds stolen by the late dictator.