Imelda’s conviction ‘faithful reminder’ of Marcos’ plunder – Pangilinan
Senator Francis Pangilinan on Friday lauded the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, saying “justice means no one is above the law.”
Pangilinan said the anti-graft court’s decision on seven graft cases against the late dictator’s widow was “a faithful reminder that the Marcoses have plundered the nation’s wealth and have stolen from the people, no matter how much efforts to revise history are done by the Marcos family and their cohorts.”
“We hope our courts will see this through the conviction and give no special treatment to Mrs. Marcos,” he added.
However, the senator pointed out that the case is from at least 34 years ago, signifying how “long and therefore frustrating the Philippine judicial system is.”
“Let us ensure that this people’s win of justice becomes a reality. Let us work for a judicial system where no one is above the law,” Pangilinan also said.
Senator Bam Aquino, meanwhile, rejoiced at how the Marcoses could no longer deny they stole money from the Filipino people.
“Sa wakas, hindi na puwedeng itanggi na nagnakaw ang mga Marcos mula sa taumbayan,” he said in a statement.
“The acknowledgment of the truth about our history and the assurance of justice for a nation robbed of its riches and potential will finally allow us to move on,” he added.
For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she hopes this ruling “would serve as a crucial electoral guide” to voters in the 2019 midterm elections.
The lady senator also urged the public not to allow “historical revisionism” and “the shameful trail of plunder, murder, and dictatorship to win in the ballot box.”
“The Filipino people must not allow our elections to be used to invalidate the people’s struggle against the Marcos dictatorship,” she added.
READ: Opposition solons on guilty verdict vs Imelda: ‘Remain on the lookout’
Earlier Friday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found the 89-year-old Mrs. Marcos guilty of violating R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when she transferred around $200 million to seven Swiss foundations during her term as Metro Manila Governor, Batasang Pambansa Member, and Minister of Human Settlement from 1975 to 1986.
READ: Imelda Marcos guilty of graft, ordered arrested
She is sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month up to 11 years for each count of graft and ordered arrested but she can still post bail as graft is a bailable charge. Her camp can also file a motion for reconsideration or appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court. /kga/ac
