Human rights victims of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos' regime petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday to block and nullify a government directive to have the ex-leader buried in a heroes' cemetery — an emotional and divisive issue for Filipinos who ousted Marcos in a 1986 "people power" revolt.

The respondents asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order, and after deliberations, to nullify the Executive Department's decision to allow Marcos' burial at the Heroes Cemetery.

The petition said such burial for the "tyrant" and the "plunderer par excellence" is illegal, would flout principles enshrined in the constitution and violate regulations that outline who is entitled to be interred in the military-run cemetery.

It also would abandon a 1993 agreement between the Marcos family and then President Fidel Ramos' government for Marcos to be buried in his hometown in northern Ilocos Norte province, the petitioners said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has remained firm in his stance to allow the burial despite growing opposition.