Supreme Court rejects abuse victims’ petitions: ruling leader accused of atrocities can be buried in Heroes’ Cemetery.

The Philippines’ former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, accused of rampant corruption and atrocities against political opponents during his 20-year rule, is set to get a hero’s burial after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of it despite much public opposition.

The country’s top court on Tuesday voted 9-5 in support of Marcos’ body to be buried in the Heroes’ Cemetery in the south of Manila.

The Supreme Court threw out opposing petitions filed by activists and victims of human rights abuses, ruling that President Rodrigo Duterte was within his powers to order that Marcos be buried in the cemetery.

“The president committed no grave abuse of discretion,” the court said, adding that no law prohibited a hero’s burial for Marcos.

Marcos’ burial in the cemetery has been an issue that has divided the nation since his death in 1989, three years after he was ousted from power in a “people power” revolt.

In August, Duterte, saying he was fulfilling a campaign promise, ordered the army to bury Marcos at the cemetery, prompting anti-Marcos groups to seek a ruling from the court.

READ MORE: Victims oppose Duterte on Marcos burial

Marcos’ son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who narrowly lost a May election for vice president, described Tuesday’s decision as “magnanimous” and expressed hope that it would “lead the nation towards healing”.

Duterte shared the sentiment.

Filipinos protest Marcos hero burial plan

“We hope the matter will finally be laid to rest, and that the nation finds the wherewithal to move forward and to continue forging a nation that is peaceable, just and fair to all,” his spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said in a statement.

More than 100 Marcos supporters, carrying Philippine flags and wearing Marcos T-shirts, gathered outside the Supreme Court and cheered the decision.

But others were angry.

“History has lost its meaning, and it’s confusing and frustrating that after so many decisions against Marcos, the Supreme Court turned itself around,” said former congressman Neri Colmenares, one of thousands of Filipinos persecuted during the era of martial law.

He said leftist groups would appeal against the ruling.

Marcos ruled the Philippines from 1965 till 1986, during which time he, his family and cronies amassed an estimated $10bn in ill-gotten wealth, a commission found. Thousands of suspected communist rebels and political foes were killed.

READ MORE: Marcos hero’s burial prompts Philippines protests

He was a soldier and guerrilla leader during World War Two, when the former US colony was occupied by Japanese forces.

Marcos died in exile in Hawaii and his family returned to the Philippines in the 1990s to became powerful local politicians representing his home province of Ilocos Norte.

His wife, Imelda, a third-term congresswoman, denies amassing wealth illegally.

His daughter Imee, the Ilocos Norte governor, said getting the hero’s burial had been a long struggle.

“This was what I promised him,” she said. “This has been my promise to him for nearly 30 years, now we’re old.”

Previous governments refused to allow the Marcos family to bury him at the cemetery, amid opposition. His embalmed body is now on display in a mausoleum in Ilocos Norte.

However, Marvic Leonen, one of the five judges who voted against the burial, said Marcos was no hero and his burial would not lead to national healing.

“He is not worthy of emulation and inspiration by those who suffer poverty as a result of the opportunity lost during his administration, by those who continue to suffer the trauma,” Leonen said.