Trumped by Marcos

In the Philippines, news of Ferdinand Marcos being allowed a hero’s funeral buried the coverage of the U.S. elections.

On Tuesday morning, as the United States prepared to vote, Filipinos converged on Facebook and Twitter to protest a Supreme Court ruling that would allow President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Heroes’ Cemetery.

Marcos ruled the Philippines for 20 years before ousted in the 1986 “people power” revolt. His family has been petitioning for his body to be buried in the cemetery since his death in 1989. The current Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, is a supporter of the Marcos family and has pushed for the former ruler’s burial in the cemetery for fallen soldiers and war veterans.

In August, Anti-Marcos groups challenged Duterte in the Supreme Court. After several emotional hearing featuring Filipinos who had been tortured during the Marcos era, the high court said that Marcos deserved to be buried in the Heroes’ Cemetery because he was a war veteran, former president and medal of valor awardee. The court did not consider crimes committed by the Marcos regime.

Filipinos on social media largely ignored the U.S. election. Most were busy expressing outrage against the decision. Niccolo Cosme, a conceptual photographer, said he will donate to charity the proceeds of one of his Imelda Marcos photos:

Others poked fun at the decision…

Even Google Maps had something to say: The Heroes’ Cemetery had been renamed “Cemetery for Heroes and One Thief.”

For one Filipino, the buck stops here: