Bagong Alyansang Makabayan describes the reversal of the conviction of Imelda Marcos as the epitome of a rotten political system enabling impunity and the continued dominance of corrupt political dynasties.
Even after their downfall in 1986, the Marcoses used their ill-gotten wealth and the political machinery of the Martial Law dictatorship to rebuild their base and return to power. They relied on political patronage and disinformation to whitewash the crimes of their family.
Imelda’s acquittal is the latest in an alarming and suspicious wave of case dismissals involving the family’s ill-gotten wealth over the past four years. Ferdinand Marcos Jr even cited these court rulings to distort facts and claim that his family’s wealth is legitimate. But no legal maneuver and shameful conspiracy to revise the judgment of history can cover the stench of corruption and other high crimes committed by the Marcoses against the Filipino people.
It was the Marcoses and their cronies who provided the template for the systematic plunder of the country’s resources. Imelda’s Swiss foundations are like today’s ghost projects, confidential funds, and pork barrel contractors. Their family’s extravagant lifestyle is the OG model of corrupt officials flaunting their stolen wealth on social media.
Imelda’s legal victory is a huge loss for ordinary Filipinos and taxpayers who continue to seek accountability and justice amid widespread social suffering caused by wanton corruption, cronyism, plunder, bad governance, and subservience to the dictates of foreign interests.
The acquittal highlights the need for sustained public vigilance over the corruption cases filed against those implicated in the flood control scam. It should also put a spotlight on the malicious attempt of the Marcos government to evade accountability for the budget insertions, kickbacks, and anomalous distribution of pork barrel funds to his allies.
Over the past four years, the Marcoses ensured that the forfeiture cases involving their ill-gotten wealth will be dismissed by the courts. They are aggressively using the vast powers of the presidency to shield Marcos Jr and his closest allies from corruption investigations and prosecution.
Bayan calls on the people to fight impunity by demanding that Marcos and other Palace officials be held accountable for corruption. The ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses should be returned to the Filipino people. Imelda and her co-conspirators should face justice. Let us remember and honor those who fought the dictatorship by refusing to be silent and refusing to forget what Martial Law did to our country.
On September 21, let us go back to the streets to protest impunity, the continuing rampant corruption, the abuse of power, and the barefaced vicious attempt to whitewash history.
Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot, hanggang sa tuktok!
Marcos noon at ngayon, korap at pasista!