“There is a duplicitous and sly plan in motion to continue the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses. Starting from the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ undeserved burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2017, up to the refusal of this government to jail convicted criminal Imelda Marcos and the congenial accommodation for Bongbong Marcos’ ongoing electoral protest, the Duterte regime is the gift that keeps on giving. This special treatment is reserved for Marcos Jr. who, if successful in acceding as Vice President after some serious hocus pocus, will provide protection for Duterte and his allies once the latter steps down,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor.
“There is a duplicitous and sly plan in motion to continue the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses. Starting from the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ undeserved burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2017, up to the refusal of this government to jail convicted criminal Imelda Marcos and the congenial accommodation for Bongbong Marcos’ ongoing electoral protest, the Duterte regime is the gift that keeps on giving. This special treatment is reserved for Marcos Jr. who, if successful in acceding as Vice President after some serious hocus pocus, will provide protection for Duterte and his allies once the latter steps down,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor.
On October 8, 2019, the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has once again deferred voting on the Marcos-Robredo case. It has already been a month since the recounting of the ballots of 5,415 precincts in three pilot provinces, but the SC en banc has yet to make any action. Reported predictions have been made on how the SC will vote, raising the possibility that Marcos will have his first win in the electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo with a vote of 8-6.
“Schemers are delaying this case. Those who want to dominate and remove any semblance of independence from the Supreme Court seem to be waiting for the retirement of a few SC justices, including Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is set to retire on October 26,” added Clamor.
The Karapatan official also expressed that even with less than a few years left, Bongbong Marcos remains adamant in pursuing his electoral protest to have him sit as the second highest official of the land: “The delusion by the Marcos family is fed by the Duterte-Marcos alliance, precisely because power, protection, and absolution from accountability is at stake. Both have something to gain – the Marcoses will be back in power and the Duterte regime will be protected from its crimes against the Filipino people.”
The political rehabilitation of the Marcoses also comes in the dismissal of plunder cases against the dictator’s family. In August 2019, the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division dismissed the P102-billion forfeiture complaint against the dictator Marcos and his cronies over insufficient evidence. On October 8, 2019, the same Sandiganbayan Division dismissed another P1-billion civil suit against Marcoses and their cronies. Both cases were filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), an agency mandated to recover ill-gotten wealth accumulated by the Marcos regime. Both cases involved jewelries, real estate properties, corporations, expensive artworks, among others.
“We cannot expect anything from a thieving family who is incapable of any honesty. With a complicit government, the Marcoses will remain a danger to the Filipino people. We urge the SC, sitting as the PET, to uphold the rule of law and immediately act on the poll protest in good conscience. Our vigilance in ensuring that a Marcos does not inch closer to the Presidency is part of our commitment to justice and accountability. We vow to never forget. Despite the looming dictatorship helmed by a new tyrant, we will continue to resist, ” Clamor concluded.