Marcoses happy but is nation rejoicing?

“THE MARCOSES are happy. But is the nation happy?” The remarks of Sen. Francisco Tatad sum up what has generally been mixed reactions to the acquittal of Imelda Marcos.

In the Senate, only Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, who fought the Marcos dictatorship throughout martial rule, voiced strong opposition to the verdict, describing it as “stunning”. Senate President Marcelo Fernan attributed the decision to “alliance” of Imelda Marcos with the justices who served under the term of her late husband. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a key player in the Edsa revolution, said “justice triumphed in the end”. “Why should Ms Marcos be jailed for spending the money of the people to improve the life of the people?” he said.

“Anyway, she did not pocket the money.” But Enrile emphasized that Imelda Marcos’ acquittal was not a vindication of the Marcoses, who were driven out of power in 1986. “The issue in 1986 is different from the issue in this case,” he said. Sen. Sergio Osmena III, among those jailed during the Marcos regime, said he was disappointed but added that the Supreme Court had already spoken.

The senators were unanimous in saying that the high court ruling must be respected, though some feared the return to power, not only politically but also economically, of the family of the late dictator.

Bigger players

“With this latest victory, there is no doubting anymore that the Marcos family is on the path back to power,” said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, noting that the Marcos children were already well ensconced politically. “I predict that they will be a big player not only in politics but also in economics so the big boys (in business) will just have to make room for them,” she added.

But Sen. Gregorio Honasan, leader of the breakaway military clique that brought about the Edsa uprising, said the Marcoses’ return should not be feared.

“In fact, I hope that they will be back (to the mainstream) because this decision clears the air,” he said. “Now, the playing field is level.” Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr. said the ruling could be an indication of how the Supreme Court thinks insofar as the cases against the Marcoses were concerned. But Fernan and Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople expressed confidence Imelda’s acquittal in this particular case would have no effect on the other cases against the Marcoses.

The lines between the pro and the anti-Marcos forces were also sharply drawn at the House of Representatives. Rep. Benigno Aquino, the son and namesake of the Marcos archrival, Ninoy Aquino, blasted the decision. Those who shared a common background of having fought the Marcos dictatorship could only shake their heads in disbelief. Many worried that a trend of legal victories for the Marcoses and their cronies may have been set in motion.

“I’m now concerned about the future of other cases involving ill-gotten wealth, not just involving the Marcoses,” said Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera, who was a member of the Agrava board that probed the Aquino assassination.

But Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino, brother of the slain anti-Marcos leader Benigno Aquino and a key figure in the Edsa revolt that ousted the Marcoses, ironically was not as worried. “I still don’t think it will set a precedent,” he said. Neither was he surprised. “I think when Jose Dans (former minister of transportation) was acquitted, it would be a matter of time that Imelda would also be acquitted.”

Human rights groups

The human rights and cause-oriented groups yesterday said their “worst fears” had been confirmed–that the Estrada administration was out to roll out the “red carpet” to accommodate the rehabilitation of the Marcoses and their cronies. They called President Estrada a “coddler and protector” of the Marcoses and their cronies. Also not surprised by the ruling was lawyer Rod Domingo, co-counsel for the human rights victims who said, “It was expected.”

The fact that the high court agreed to hear the case en banc was an indication that the justices were out to acquit her,” he said. Domingo stressed that the cases that usually merit an en banc hearing were those “involving the national interest and imbued with public interest.”

“The Supreme Court ruling will only embolden corrupt officials in the government,” he said.

“The ruling only proves that indeed the Marcoses and their cronies are back.”

Reversal of history

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, for its part, strongly condemned Imelda Marcos’ acquittal, saying “President Estrada’s first 100 days in office had been truly a heyday for the Marcoses.” Nathaniel Santiago, Bayan secretary general said the red carpet for the Marcoses started with the Marcoses’ ominous demand for a hero’s burial for the former dictator. Santiago also cited the acquittal of the Marcos daughter and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos from tax evasion charges, the return of alleged Marcos crony Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco to San Miguel Corp. and tycoon Lucio Tan’s victory at Philippine Airlines. He also assailed the justices who voted for Imelda Marcos’ acquittal.

“With just a stroke of a hand, the justices have succeeded in reversing history’s judgment on the Marcoses,” Santiago said. But the human rights victims said they could not condone such “evil moves” of the administration. “The crimes committed by the Marcoses against the Filipinos demand full prosecution and they should pay for all their offenses,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, secretary general of Karapatan at Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (Selda). Enriquez said the sad part of the ruling was that the country’s judicial system remains to favor the “rich and famous.”

“Every court decision and proceeding favoring the Marcoses only adds to the harrowing pains and sufferings of the Marcos victims whose quest for justice has long been both a struggle and an aspiration,” Enriquez said. “When will justice be served us?”

At the Senate, Fernan, a former chief justice, voiced doubts on whether the high court would still change its mind on appeal by the government. “Seldom does the Supreme Court reverse itself after having rendered a main decision,” he noted. “I believe a reconsideration is a long shot.”