MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte will encourage his allies in the House of Representatives to grant immunity for Marcoses in exchange for the recovery of a portion of the family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Duterte, who has vowed to recover the reported ill-gotten wealth in his term, said he would encourage the Congress and the Senate to craft a new law that will grant immunity from criminal prosecution to the Marcos family in exchange for the return of a portion of their wealth hidden overseas.
In his interview with reporters on Tuesday, September 12, Duterte said: “Congress might decide to pass a law to allow the government to negotiate with the Marcos family. They should be in talks with the Department of Justice or representatives of the finance department and Central Bank.”
Still, the president stressed that he only enforces agreements and that he cannot agree or disagree with a proposition in which he has no authority.
Earlier, Duterte said he’d ask for immunity if he were the Marcoses.
“If I were the Marcoses, kung isauli ko man 'yan, sabihin ko sa kanila, maghingi kayo ng immunity. Otherwise, keep the goddamn money at baka isauli mo nga, makulong ka,” Duterte said.
While the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has recovered at least P170 billion from the Marcoses as well as their cronies, the agency believes that the family stashed around $5 billion to $10 billion during their 20-year regime.
Several lawmakers including Rep. Edcel Lagman, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. have opposed the plan to grant immunity to the family of the late dictator.
For Baguilat, the quest for recovering the Marcos wealth was “more than just money.”
“It’s about justice and accountability for the crimes against the people during Martial Law—the killings, the torture, the suppression of freedoms and the degradation of our democratic institutions,” Baguilat explained.
-- Mini, The Summit Express
 |
| PHOTO CREDIT: PhilStar |
In his interview with reporters on Tuesday, September 12, Duterte said: “Congress might decide to pass a law to allow the government to negotiate with the Marcos family. They should be in talks with the Department of Justice or representatives of the finance department and Central Bank.”
Still, the president stressed that he only enforces agreements and that he cannot agree or disagree with a proposition in which he has no authority.
Earlier, Duterte said he’d ask for immunity if he were the Marcoses.
“If I were the Marcoses, kung isauli ko man 'yan, sabihin ko sa kanila, maghingi kayo ng immunity. Otherwise, keep the goddamn money at baka isauli mo nga, makulong ka,” Duterte said.
While the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has recovered at least P170 billion from the Marcoses as well as their cronies, the agency believes that the family stashed around $5 billion to $10 billion during their 20-year regime.
Several lawmakers including Rep. Edcel Lagman, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. have opposed the plan to grant immunity to the family of the late dictator.
For Baguilat, the quest for recovering the Marcos wealth was “more than just money.”
“It’s about justice and accountability for the crimes against the people during Martial Law—the killings, the torture, the suppression of freedoms and the degradation of our democratic institutions,” Baguilat explained.
-- Mini, The Summit Express
