In this photo taken on November 25, 2016, survivors of Martial Law marched together with other Dabawenyos to protest the Supreme Court’s decision on the Marcos’ burial issue. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Even if the Marcoses return their alleged ill-gotten wealth to the government, victims of the late dictator’s regime say the family will remain plunderers and criminals.
“The Marcoses should be in jail for their crimes against the Filipino people and for the destruction and plunder of the economy they have committed for 21 years,” Danilo Dela Fuente, Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) spokesperson said on Tuesday, August 30.
President Rodrigo Duterte said the Marcoses have expressed willingness to open and return an alleged ill-gotten wealth which includes some expensive gold bars.
But Dela Fuente pointed out that “does not mean absolution from their crimes of plunder, human rights violations and massive corruption”
“They should not go scot-free,” he said.
Dela Fuente is one of the named plaintiffs in the class action suit filed against the Marcoses in Hawaii in 1986. US Federal Courts upheld that the Marcoses are accountable for grave human rights abuses under the Marcos 21-year reign.
He said the political accommodation and rehabilitation by the Duterte government is unacceptable.”
Selda urged Duterte to disclose details of what seemed like “negotiations” with the Marcoses.
“It seems like a fix designed to fool the martial law victims and the people to make the plunderous and murderous Marcoses look like benevolent family to complete their rehabilitation and revision of history,” Dela Fuente added. (davaotoday.com)
