MANILA, Philippines — Activist groups insisted yesterday they want the Marcos family in jail and that Filipinos across generations do not want another dictatorship.
Earlier, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos was criticized for her “move on” remark addressed to her generation, noting the millennials have already put the martial law issue behind them.
Coming immediately to his sister’s defense, former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. said he understands his sister’s sentiment about “something that happened 32 years ago,” referring to the 1986 EDSA revolution that ousted the Marcos dictatorship.
“We can never sit still knowing that money stolen from the country’s coffers is still being used to fatten up the pockets of the Marcoses,” Marie Hilao-Enriquez, co-convenor of the Campaign Against the Return of Marcoses in Malacañang (CARMMA), said.
“Nobody from that family is in jail for their crimes against the Filipino people. Worse, they are inches from gaining key national positions that (may) propel them closer to the country’s top post,” she added.
Enriquez said Imee will be running for senator this coming elections while her brother is still eyeing the presidency.
Moreover, the group noted that in an interview last week, Bongbong said he is “ready for the presidency,” following President Duterte’s pronouncement that he is willing to step down so long as the former senator and losing vice presidential candidate replaces him.
Bongbong has a pending electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
“Duterte has, no doubt, played a big role in the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses. Despite all the President’s bravado on ending corruption, he has enabled one of the most corrupt and opportunistic family in the country,” Enriquez said.
“Indeed, birds of the same feather flock together. Marcos needs Duterte’s popularity while Duterte needs Marcos to absolve him of his crimes once he steps down. This is an ideal partnership for rights violators who have perfected the art of evading justice and accountability,” Enriquez pointed out.
Enriquez said CARMMA was established to expose the lies of the Marcoses and enjoin the Filipino people to prevent their return to power.
She said an alliance of different groups, sectors and individuals is currently being strengthened to fight and end the tyranny of Duterte.
“It is incumbent upon the Filipino people to resist and bring down another dictatorship,” Enriquez said.
Aside from the murders, disappearances and lack of freedoms during martial law, the Marcoses are also being taken to task for their unexplained wealth, as people pointed out that their family could not have possibly amassed what they have without robbing the country while they were in power.