Group: Pursuit of justice to continue despite PCGG retirement

MANILA, Philippines - A group of political detainees on Thursday insisted that it would not stop pursuing justice for martial law victims despite the statement of Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Andres Bautista that the government should stop going after the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

"We cannot just ‘forgive and forget’ what the Marcoses did to us, nor must the Aquino government stop pursuing justice for martial law victims and the rest of the Filipinos," said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto or Selda. 

She said the current proposal to stop going after the Marcos ill-gotten wealth is a declaration that the Aquino government has given up on taking on the challenge of even ending the political careers of the Marcoses. 

Enriquez said many of Marcos family members have returned to power, including former First Lady Imelda Marcos who is now representative of Ilocos Norte. 

Imelda's two children--Imee is Ilocos Norte Governor while Bongbong is a senator, Enriquez said. 

"After winning the historic class suit of martial law victims against the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, where he was found guilty of committing human rights abuses against 9,539 individuals who fought the dictatorship, not one among the Marcoses, their henchmen and cronies were put behind bars," Enriquez noted.

She also warned of a quid pro quo now that the Marcos Victims’ Compensation Bill is set for bicameral committee debates. 

"A law that will help give reparation to martial law victims is not the be all and end all of our pursuit for justice, it is only a battle won in our lifetime of struggle. It cannot replace what we have always wanted to achieve: to see the Marcoses, their henchmen and cronies account for their transgressions and return all the wealth stolen from the Filipinos back to where it rightfully belongs," Enriquez said.