Dismissal of Marcos P1 billion ill-gotten wealth case hit

MANILA, Philippines — A rights group on Thursday condemned the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) upholding the dismissal of a civil forfeiture case involving P1.052 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth against the family of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

The Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) deplored that the civil forfeiture case and other cases involving the Marcoses’ hidden wealth have been dismissed since President Marcos assumed office.

Aside from the SC’s decision last March 29, which was made public yesterday, the group lamented the dismissal of other cases. Among them is the P600-million civil forfeiture case involving the President and his mother, Imelda Marcos by the Sandiganbayan last June.

In February this year, the Sandiganbayan’s fifth division dismissed another civil case against the Marcos family.

The anti-graft court’s fourth division also dismissed a state lawsuit seeking to recover P200 billion worth of assets and properties in July 2022.

“CARMMA condemns the emerging pattern and scheme under the current Marcos Jr. administration – the numerous dismissals on the cases to recover the monies siphoned by the Marcoses from public funds and thru the government bureaucracy,” one of the group’s convenors, former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo said in a statement.

Citing data from the Presidential Commission on Good Government, she said at least $6 billion worth of Marcos ill-gotten wealth have not been recovered.

She also cited the replacement of former Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Lilia Guillermo after she publicly expressed that all Filipinos – including presidents and the Marcoses – are accountable in ensuring the payment of estate taxes; the continuing non-payment of the long overdue estate taxes, and the enactment of a law on the Maharlika Investment Fund which may eventually turn into a slush fund for corruption.

Taguiwalo said all these point to a disturbing picture of impunity and injustice in relation to the plundered wealth of the Marcoses and a grand heist being done in full view of the Filipino people.

“We at CARMMA condemn these schemes and machinations. We demand the full return of the stolen funds by the Marcoses and that they be held fully accountable for the massive plunder and grave human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship,” she said.