Philippines high court allows protest against vice president News
Philippines high court allows protest against vice president

[JURIST] The Supreme Court of the Philippines [official website] on Thursday denied an attempt from the country’s vice president to halt a protest against her election. Social activist Leni Robredo [official Twitter] was elected vice president in May over the son of the late former dictator Ferdinand Marcos [JURIST news archive], who is commonly known as Bongbong Marcos. Marcos organized the protest and claims that he was the rightful winner of the vice presidential election. The court, sitting as the Presidential Election Tribunal, issued the resolution [Twitter image] on January 24, but was just released yesterday.

The effects of Marcos’ regime have been felt throughout the Philippines [BBC Backgrounder] for years. His burial in the celebrated Heroes’ Cemetery has been contested for months, even though President Rodrigo Duterte approved the controversial burial, recognizing Marcos as a commendable leader entitled to honor. In November the Supreme Court justices honored [JURIST report] Duterte’s approval by a vote of 9-5 with one abstention, acknowledging that the controversial figure was nevertheless a former legislator, defense secretary and soldier deserving of merit. In August human rights victims had filed a petition with the Supreme Court to halt the burial of Marcos [JURIST report]. Petitioners pointed to a 1993 agreement stating that Marcos would be buried in his hometown in northern Ilocos Norte province.