Marcos’ Sister Buried in Northern Philippines

BATAC, Philippines — About 100 mourners Wednesday attended the funeral of a sister of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos after the family waited in vain for 17 days for the Philippine government to allow the deposed ruler to return from exile for the rites.

Elizabeth Marcos Rocha, a former governor of Ilocos Norte province who died Dec. 14, was buried in a cemetery in the heart of Batac. Flags were flown at half-staff over municipal halls in Marcos’ home province, 260 miles north of Manila.

The family had asked the government of President Corazon Aquino to allow Marcos, now living in exile to Honolulu, to return. The government rejected the plea “in the interest of the nation.”