Press Release
August 30, 2017

AKBAYAN SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON DUTERTE SAYING THAT MARCOSES "WILLING" TO RETURN GOLD BARS, PORTION OF HIDDEN WEALTH

Hindi lamang ito usapin ng pagsasaoli ng ilang pirasong ginto.

Recovering the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth is just one aspect of the campaign to hold them accountable for the atrocities that were committed during Martial Law.

Ang pagbawi sa nakaw na yaman ng mga Marcos ay dapat laging nakakabit sa panawagang papanagutin ang pamilyang Marcos sa kanilang mga kasalanan sa sambayanan at pagbibigay ng hustisya sa lahat ng biktima ng Martial Law.

Without justice and accountability, without acknowledgement by the Marcoses of their colossal abuses against the people, any attempt to return mere portions of the ill-gotten wealth they amassed during Martial Law is a ploy to buy false credibility and further stain our history. Saying that they are willing to return portions of the ill-gotten wealth means that they have it. And the wealth never belonged to them to begin with. Generations of Filipinos who suffered deserve more than crumbs from the table.

Unfortunately, the recent statements of the Duterte government calling for the abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) do not inspire confidence. Quite the opposite, they arouse suspicion. That only some of the ill gotten wealth will be returned is obviously in favor of the Marcoses. The intention to abolish the very agency tasked to recover the nation's stolen money is obviously an attempt to foster a culture of private arrangements or "areglo" over transparency and accountability to the public. This simply must not stand.

I call on President Duterte to make public the full details of the proposal presented by the emissary of the Marcoses regarding the return of some of their ill-gotten wealth to the government.

The government must not exchange the people's pursuit of justice for all the victims of Martial Law for a few gold bars, like 30 pieces of silver.

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