Hontiveros fears dismissal of Marcos cases part of ‘historical revisionism’

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday expressed fear that dismissal of several cases against the Marcoses in relation to their ill-gotten wealth could be part of alleged efforts to revise the nation’s history.

The Sandiganbayan recently junked a forfeiture case amounting to P267.371 million against dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his widow, Imelda, and several associates due to insufficient evidence.

This is the third such case against the Marcoses and their cronies dismissed on the same grounds by the anti-graft court this year.

READ: 3rd wealth case vs Marcoses junked

READ: Sandiganbayan junks another ill-gotten wealth case vs. Marcoses

“Nakakatakot kung magiging o nagiging bahagi ito ng historical revisionism project ng pamilya (Marcos) (It is worrisome if this will be or already a part of the historical revisionism project of the Marcos family),” Hontiveros told reporters in an interview.

She said she could not say yet if there is negligence or incompetence on the part of the government that cases against Marcoses and their cronies are being junked. But she also admitted that “clearly there’s something wrong going on.”

The senator lamented that despite the “historic work” of the Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG), and 1995 ruling of the United States District Court in Hawaii favoring Martial Law victims, cases against the Marcoses are being dismissed lately in Philippine courts.

“Pagkatapos ng historically-established na mga atraso ng pamilya sa sambayanang Pilipino sa usapin ng plunder, sa kabila ng historic na trabaho ng PCGG, sa kabila rin ng pagka-panalo ng human rights claimants laban sa kanilang estate, bakit sa mismong domestic courts natin ay parang hindi ina-uphold ‘yung ganyang historical judgment?”she said.

(After the historically-established crimes of the Marcos family against the Filipino people in terms of plunder, the historic work of the PCGG, and the victory of human rights claimants against their estate, why does our own domestic courts seem to not uphold such historical judgment?)

The setback in the fight to recover the ill-gotten wealth of Marcoses should serve as a “wake up call” to the Filipino people, who must remain vigilant and firm in holding the Marcos family accountable for their crimes, according to Hontiveros.

The senator then said she is open to looking into whether PCGG should be given other forms of support so that it could continue accomplishing its mandate. /kga