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Former first lady Imelda Marcos kisses the glass coffin of her husband, late president Ferdinand Marcos, who remains unburied since his death in 1989, during her 85th birthday celebration in Ferdinand Marcos' hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte province, in northern Philippines. Image Credit: Reuters

The Philippine Supreme Court ordered the government on Tuesday to put on hold a plan to bury former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a heroes' cemetery, a court spokesman said.

The 15-member high bench of the court told the government not to do anything on the issue for 20 days, the spokesman, Theodore Te, told reporters.

A plan supported President Rodrigo Duterte to bury the former president in the cemetery has been criticized by human rights groups and many politicians, including many of Duterte supporters.