MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan Party-list on Thursday questioned the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the graft conviction of former first lady Imelda Marcos, warning that the ruling should not be treated as a political pardon for the Marcos dictatorship.
Akbayan said the timing of the ruling was “deeply disturbing,” noting that Marcos is the mother of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the matriarch of the Marcos political dynasty.
“The Supreme Court may have overturned Imelda Marcos’ graft conviction, but it has not reversed history,” the group said.
Akbayan pointed to the state’s recovery of billions of pesos in ill-gotten wealth from the Marcoses and the legal recognition and compensation of thousands of Martial Law victims as part of the country’s historical and legal record.
“We cannot allow this ruling to become a political pardon for an entire dictatorship,” it said.
Akbayan maintained that the ruling does not erase the country’s history or its calls for justice, accountability and the recovery of allegedly stolen public wealth.
“The fight for justice, accountability, and the full recovery of the nation’s stolen wealth continues,” the group said.
