Powerful Blast Blows Up Marcos Bust in Philippines

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 30, 2002

Powerful Blast Blows Up Marcos Bust in Philippines

The biggest statue that late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos built to immortalize himself was blown up on Sunday.

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The biggest statue that late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos built to immortalize himself was blown up on Sunday.

Police Superintendent Elpidio Gabriel said no one was hurt in the explosion that occurred around 1:40 a.m. in a remote area of Benguet province, about 124 miles north of Manila.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the explosion, but suspects included left-wing rebels, tribal activists and even treasure hunters, officials said.

The explosion, which residents said sounded like a car collision, blew away the eyes, the nose and part of the ears of the former dictator's bust, which overlooked a major highway crossing on the main Philippine island of Luzon.

It was located close to Ilocos Norte, Marcos' home province.

Part of his lips and the base of the 33-foot bust were still intact, witnesses said.

Numerous attempts have been made in the past to destroy the bust.

The construction of the bust, which started in the mid-1980s along with plans to develop a golf course there, was never finished as Marcos was ousted from power in 1986.

After Marcos fled his country, tribesmen displaced by the project slaughtered a water buffalo and bathed the statue with its blood to ``exorcise'' his spirit.

Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989.

Source: Agencies

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