Marcoses to face claims vs estate in proper courts – Sen. Marcos

Senator Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The US Court of Appeals’ $350-million contempt judgment against the heirs of Ferdinand Marcos will not be the end of human rights victims’ claims against the dictator’s estate, according to the late former President’s son and namesake, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Bongbong Marcos said their family would “deal with” claims filed before the courts against his father’s estate.

“As the co-executor of my father’s estate, it is my duty to administer the estate’s assets properly. Therefore, we will deal with this matter when it is filed in the proper court,” the senator said in a brief statement in reaction to the recent decision of the US appellate court.

Marcos, nonetheless, said their family has always wanted closure to the issues of ill-gotten wealth and human rights violations ranged against their family since his father was ousted more than 26 years ago, but would like to see the process done according to the law.

“Tulad ng ating mga kababayang Pilipino, ganoon din ang pagnanais ng aming pamilya na tuluyan nang makausad ang ating bansa [Just like our countrymen, our family also wants the country to move forward],” the senator said.

“Higit kaninuman, kami ang may pinakamasidhing pangarap na matuldukan na ang mga usaping tulad nito sa paraang naaayon sa batas [More than anyone else’s, it is our most fervent hope to put an end to issues such as these in accordance with the law],” he added.

The US Court of Appeals on Oct. 24 ruled in favor of the human rights victims during the Marcos dictatorship when it upheld a contempt judgment against the estate of the late dictator after his heirs were found to have violated an injunction that prevented them from dissipating the assets of the state.

The contempt award of $353.6 million is believed to be the largest the appellate court upheld.

The judgment can reportedly be implemented against any US property owned by former First Lady Imelda and Bongbong Marcos.

For Marcos assets in the Philippines, the human rights victims reportedly need to ask the Philippine government for the implementation of the judgment.

The law providing for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program has earmarked Marcos ill-gotten wealth for the government’s agrarian reform program.

A Honolulu court in 1995 awarded $2 billion in damages to 10,000 human rights victims that suffered during the dictatorship.