Bill abolishing PCGG a ‘treacherous move’ by House, says Selda

Victims of martial law atrocities have branded the passage of a bill that seeks to abolish the commission tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as a “treacherous move” by the House of Representatives.

The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) on Friday condemned the approval of House Bill 7376 which seeks to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and transfer its powers and functions to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

“Abolishing the PCGG is a treacherous move to block further recovery of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth, That’s the Duterte government in cahoots with the Marcoses,” Selda chairperson Trinidad Herrera-Repuno said in a statement.

While Repuno admitted that they had criticized the PCGG for its “inefficiency” in recovering the ill-gotten wealth, she stressed that “abolition of the agency is far worse.”

READ: House OKs on final reading bill seeking to abolish PCGG

“This action goes along with the grand scheme of the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses, now sponsored by the Duterte government,” Repuno said.

“Transferring the PCGG functions to a government agency headed by a Marcos apologist like Solicitor General Jose Calida is lunacy to say the least, but what can you expect from Malacanang?” she also said.

Calida, according to Selda vice chair Danny dela Fuente, was put to the task “because he has proven himself to be much in favor of the Marcoses.”

Dela Fuente noted that Calida, as the chief lawyer of the government, defended the hero’s burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani before the Supreme Court.

“What could be more perfect in economically sustaining and politically rehabilitating the Marcoses than by assigning another Marcos fan from the Duterte administration who can be depended upon to kill any move against the Marcoses,” he said.

Voting 162-10 without abstention, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 7376 which seeks to strengthen the OSG by transferring the powers of the PCGG to the office. /muf