A MILITANT lawmaker yesterday assailed the Sandiganbayan’s decision to dismiss the P276-million ill-gotten wealth case against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife, former first Lady Imelda Marcos, saying it is another injustice to the Filipino people.
“We express our profound dismay over the recent dismissal by the Sandiganbayan of the P276-million ill-gotten wealth case against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Imelda Marcos, and their crony Roman Cruz. This decision is a grave injustice to the Filipino people who continue to bear the brunt of the long-standing plunder and corruption that characterized the Marcos regime,” said Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela).
Brosas, a member of the militant Makabayan bloc, said the ruling, which absolves the accused of accountability, “is a glaring reminder of the enduring inequities in our justice system.”
“It also serves to embolden those who wish to rewrite history and erase the atrocities committed during the Marcos era,” she said.
“We reject this decision as it stands as an affront to the efforts of those who have tirelessly worked to expose and rectify the injustices committed against the Filipino people. Nananawagan kami sa mga Pilipino na labanan ang anumang pagtatangka na linisin ang madilim na kabanata ng ating nakaraan (We call on the Filipino people to fight any attempt to revise our dark past),” she added.
In a 30-page resolution dated October 4, 2024, the Sandiganbayan special anti-graft court granted the motion filed by President Marcos Jr. and her mother Imelda on behalf of the Marcos estate seeking dismissal of a 37-year-old ill-gotten wealth case.
Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg penned the resolution which upheld the argument of the Marcos widow that there was a violation of her right to speedy disposition of cases due to the lengthy delay in the progress of Civil Case No. 0006.
The case, originally filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) on July 21, 1987, named the Marcos couple and Cruz, who served as former president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Philippine Airlines, and the Manila Hotel.
The PCGG sought the forfeiture of real estate properties valued at least P276.69 million, including two lots and two condominium units in Baguio City, a residential building in Makati City, a parcel of land and six condominium units in California, USA, and a residential lot in the city of Manila.
It also asked the court for award of P50 billion in moral damages and P1 billion in exemplary damages.
The Marcos couple was declared in default in 1989 for failing to file their answer to the lawsuit, but this was set aside in 1992 after the court granted Mrs. Marcos’ request to be given a chance to contest the allegations.
All the defendants filed their pre-trial briefs in September 1995 and Mrs. Marcos asked for P20 billion moral and exemplary damages and P10 million in attorney’s fees.
Mrs. Marcos said because of the disinterest shown by government lawyers in pursuing the case, their right to a fair trial has been prejudiced since many of the witnesses they could have called to testify in their defense are no longer around while documents may no longer be located. She added that her health has already declined affecting her ability to testify in her own defense.
Government lawyers did not oppose the defendants’ motion, noting that “there are no more allegations against the Estate of the late Ferdinand Marcos” since the PCGG case against the Estate had already been excluded as of October 12, 2012, citing the lack of definitive information on the allegation that Marcos used Cruz as a dummy or why he is perceived as such.
