1965 to 1986 and during his first term the government developed the country’s infrastructure building many schools and hospitals. But Marcos is most likely to be remembered for his declaration of martial law, in his second term, a period which led to the closure of more than 80 newspapers, 292 radio stations and public utility services providing electricity, water and transport.

While Marcos sought to implement his vision of a new republic – promoted in the movement Kilusang Bagong Lipunan – his martial law, from 1972 to 1981, caused the deaths of 3,240 people, imprisonment of 70,000 and torture of 34,000, according to Amnesty International.

Rodrigo Duterte, the current president of the Philippines defended the decision over the burial of Marcos, ruling it to be in the public interest, andview Marcos as a great president for one reason or another. The decision brings closure to countless Filipinos who can finally put an end to a widely divisive issue.

Ronald Po, 35, industrial engineer, Quezon City

‘I suffered 13 years hiding underground, a year and a half in prison’

I am one of many petitioners who asked the supreme court to overturn their decision. Due to martial law, I suffered 13 years hiding underground and a year and a half in prison, with over a month in solitary confinement. I graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1969 and went on to teach English there. During this time I was a contributing editor at Graphic magazine and wrote articles attacking Marcos, beginning with the “first quarter storm” in 1970