Martial Law victims laud US Court decision vs. Marcoses

By SELDA
October 30, 2012

QUEZON CITY  –  “The decision of the US Court of Appeals declaring Imelda Marcos and her son Bongbong in contempt is another victory for the victims of martial law.”

The statement was issued today by Bonifacio Ilagan, Vice-Chairperson of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA).

On October 24, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a contempt judgment on Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, his mother Imelda and the estate of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos for violating a court order transferring the assets of the estate.

“The decision is a smack in the face of the Marcoses who continue to arrogantly hold on to their ill-gotten wealth and to use it to remain in their lofty positions and power,” Ilagan stated.

Bongbong sits as a senator, mother Imelda is currently a congressman and sister Imee is governor of Ilocos province. Both mother and daughter are running for re-election in next year’s elections.

The US Court of Appeals has ordered that martial law victims be awarded US$353.6 million resulting from the daily fine of $100,000 from February 3, 1995 to February 3, 2005 imposed by the Hawaii Court of First Instance.

Despite this, the victims of the Marcos dictatorship has yet to be indemnified after winning the historic Class Action Suit against Marcos in 1992.

“It’s been twenty years since that historic day, and to date, even after gaining another victory, no law has been passed by the government to indemnify the victims,” Ilagan lamented. “This delay has partly been caused by various settlements that the different administrations have entered into with the Marcoses since the time of former President Corazon Aquino.”

SELDA warned the current Aquino government from entering into any agreement with the Marcoses that would compromise the martial law victims. It stressed that now is the time for it to complement the US Court of Appeals decision with positive action by pushing the Senate to act on the indemnification bill, as well as hold the Marcoses and their cronies and henchmen accountable for their crimes against the Filipino people.

“What worth is this victory, if the Aquino government continues to ignore our demands for justice and even turns chummy chummy with the Marcoses?” Ilagan queried.