Duterte may attend Marcos burial

President Duterte said on Wednesday he might attend the late dictator’s burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani, a decision he continued to defend yesterday amid growing criticism from rights groups.

“If I’m in good health, there’s no pressing matter to attend to, I might [attend]” Mr. Duterte said in a press briefing, though he noted that there was no definite date for the burial yet.

But he also said he would abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue, after martial law victims asked the tribunal to stop the burial.

“I would follow what the highest court of the land would order. There’s the rule of law,” he said.

He defended the legality of his move to allow Marcos the burial, insisting that former presidents are qualified to rest at the heroes’ cemetery.

The regulations are not a qualifier that those accused of being despots were exempted, he said.

For those objecting to the move, they could hold protests for even as long as a month if they wanted to, he said.

They just need to coordinate with authorities to manage the traffic flow, the president said. Leila B. Salaverria

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