Kiko to Marcos family: Apologize, return all ill-gotten wealth

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday said he believes reports that the marcos family is willing to return a portion of their alleged ill-gotten wealth is not sincere unless the offer also comes with an apology for the corruption and human rights abuses perpetuated by the Marcos dictatorship.

"Walang dahilan na maniwala tayo sa sinseridad ng mga pamilyang Marcos," Pangilinan, president of the former ruling Liberal Party (LP), said in a text message to reporters.

"Isauli nila ang nakaw na yaman at humingi ng kapatawaran sa mga kasalanan ng diktadura at dun lang natin paniniwalaan ang kanilang sinseridad."

Senator Bam Aquino, for his part, said it is only right that Marcos' heirs return whatever wealth they illegally acquired during his presidency.

"Yung pagbabalik po ng perang ninakaw, kinakailangan ng ating bayan yan to be able to move forward — yung admission na ninakaw yan at yung pagbabalik," Aquino said in an interview.

Aquino said all ill-gotten wealth must be returned by the Marcoses. He said the amount should be determined by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

"Tama lang; dapat lang [ibalik]. Pera yan ng bayan, dapat lang na ibalik yan pero ang magandang tanong, magkano doon sa kinuha nila ang  ibabalik sa atin? Dapat yung kabuuan ang ibabalik sa atin," he said.

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the Marcoses are willing to return a portion of their alleged ill-gotten wealth, including a few gold bars.

Duterte said that according to the family, the late Marcos "was just protecting the economy for the [eventuality] na umalis siya."

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said "all ill-gotten wealth must be returned."

Asked what will happen to the accountability of the Marcos family, Pimentel said: "Trabaho na ng lawyers nila yan to research how they can protect the interests of their clients. But all ill-gotten wealth must be returned before we (government) even think of compromising anything."

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, for his part, said the possible return of wealth is "welcome and a step forward."

"However, the offer might not be enough for some sectors as the meat of the issue for them has always been about three things: admission, accountability and complete reparation," Escudero, whose father was a member of the Marcos cabinet, said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said recovering ill-gotten wealth is only one aspect of holding the Marcos family accountable for the atrocities committed during the martial law regime.

“Without justice and accountability, without acknowledgement by the Marcoses of their colossal abuses against the people, any attempt to return mere portions of the ill-gotten wealth they amassed during Martial Law is an attempt to buy false credibility and further stain our history,” she said.

“Saying that they are willing to return portions of the ill-gotten wealth means that they have it. And the wealth never belonged to them to begin with. Generations of Filipinos who suffered deserve more than crumbs from the table,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros said Duterte should disclose the full details of the proposal supposedly presented by an emissary of the Marcoses. —KBK/KVD, GMA News