Philippines' Duterte gives go-ahead for Marcos burial at heroes' cemetery

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he had given the go-ahead for the interment of the remains of ousted President Ferdinand Marcos in the heroes' cemetery in Manila.

Duterte told a news conference before leaving for Bangkok, Thailand that he personally told former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late president, that the Marcos family can now proceed with the burial arrangement.

"I saw Bongbong (Marcos Jr.) yesterday in Tacloban. I said, 'it's your choice.' He said same question as you: 'Can we now proceed?' 'Oh, yes, you can,'" Duterte said.

Duterte and Marcos Jr. were in Tacloban City in central Philippines to commemorate the victims of the deadly Typhoon Haiyan that hit central Philippines in 2013.

He reiterated that he will not take his word back, recalling his promise to the Marcoses during the presidential campaign. Duterte has revealed that the Marcoses helped him financially during the campaign.

The Marcos family will shoulder the burial costs.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Marcos' remains can be interred in the cemetery, saying there is no law that bar Marcos to be buried in the cemetery reserved for former presidents and soldiers. Marcos was also a soldier before he became president.

Duterte has endorsed the idea even before he took the office on June 30.

Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling, Duterte reiterated that he simply "followed the law". Endit