Philippine President Keeps Hands Off Marcos Burial

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III says he will ask another official to decide on fresh calls for former dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in a heroes' cemetery, removing himself from the divisive issue due to his parents' historic battle with the strongman.

Marcos was ousted in a 1986 "people power" revolt led by the Philippine president's late mother, pro-democracy icon Corazon Aquino. Marcos died three years later in exile in Hawaii, and his body was flown back in 1993 to his northern Philippine hometown of Batac, where it has been displayed in a glass coffin.

Aquino told reporters Wednesday that he did not want to decide on new appeals for Marcos to be given a hero's burial because he would be perceived as biased.