Palace warns officers over plan to bury Marcos with military honours

Manila: The presidential palace has warned reserve officers who offered to give military honours to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, despite the declaration of President Benigno Aquino that he would not allow this to happen under his administration.

"Let's respect the decision of the President," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told dzRB, a government-run radio station.

The Reserve Officers' Legion of the Philippines (ROLP) have planned to bury the former leader with military honours, when the family decides where he should be buried.

Former first lady and now congresswoman Imelda Marcos, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos were informed about ROLP's decision. "Nobody could take away the right of our brother soldier and veteran [Marcos] to be buried at the National Heroes Cemetery, [and] if the Marcos family agrees, we will provide the military honours [for him], and nobody can prevent us from giving military honours to a fallen brother," said a ROLP spokesman.

The Aquinos and the Marcoses have a long-standing family feud.