February 1986—the Filipinos joined ranks to overthrow a 20-year conjugal dictatorship in a bloodless revolution. All kinds of people—rich and poor, male and female—converged in EDSA to create what is now considered a shining moment in history. It was then that the people hoped for freedom and change after the infamous regime that emptied the nation’s coffers and trampled on the people’s rights.
Fast track to the year 1996. EDSA is but an old memory as Filipinos confront a host of issues from traffic to crime to peace in Mindanao. Things are getting better through, with the seven percent growth of the Gross National Product and inflation plummeting to the single-digit levels. The Philippines has upgraded its status from being the “sick man of Asia” to being a potential economic tiger. However, in spite of impending progress, it still has to exorcise the ghosts of its past.
Indeed, Filipinos have a propensity for short memories. The people who held the fort during the Marcos Administration are back, and holding important positions at that. No less than the Supermarm herself, Imelda Marcos, was elected as representative of Leyte.
Just recently, former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan was convicted and sentenced to death for treason and corruption. His successor, Roh Tae Woo, was also meted 22 and a half years in prison. This prompted comparison between the justice systems of Korea and the Philippines. Teddy Benigno of the Philippine Star says, “The verdict did another thing. It stripped us Filipinos and our leadership naked. It showed us for what we are—phonies all in our avowals of democracy and the rule of law, unable and helpless to bring our biggest felons to justice.” (Philippine Star, August 30, 1996)
The tables have turned somewhat. Imelda Marcos is on the warpath, bringing with her a horde of lawyers and seeking to recover all the properties and assets the government seized after the couple fled to Hawaii.
The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has not exactly come clean regarding its dealings with the “stolen wealth” of the Marcoses. Rumors have it that a 75-25 deal with the Marcoses has been struck regarding the $475 million in cash still stashed away in Swiss banks, despite repeated promises that it would never strike such a deal. The PCGG has also failed to give the Filipinos a periodic update of the case. Who knows how many files have mysteriously disappeared or the specific amounts of pesos malversed? What is this gold that Imelda talks about—billions of dollars in gold bullions?
The Sandiganbayan has not fared so well, either. Up to now, Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena is still sitting on the decision to validate its own sentence of 18-24 years of prison for Mrs. Marcos for malversation of public funds. The questions remain unanswered. Does the government have a strong, solid case or will it go the way of the Marcos trial in New York a few years back?
The wheels of justice grind slowly in this country, bogged down as it is by “due process” and amassing of evidence, not to mention the predictable theatrics that Imelda acts out every time she’s on trial.
Carmen Pedrosa asserts that the pattern of laxity and treating the Marcoses with kid gloves was started during the Aquino government. The Aquino government had started out strong but chose to seek a more conciliatory path towards them. (Philippines Star, August 31, 1996)
Because of the government’s seeming unwillingness to bring them to justice, the Marcoses now call the Filipino government names, threaten it with suits, and speak as if they had never done anything wrong.
It is about time, then, for the government to open what Teddy Benigno calls the “Marcos File.” It is imperative that they make public the findings against the Marcoses, and the steps they have taken to finally give them what is due them. It is time to make a showing of strong political will and a strong resolve to find the truth. As Benigno asserts, “The dictator died in Honolulu, but it is his ghost that haunts us now.” It is not over yet—not until the government levels with the people and musters enough courage to run after those who abused the country.
As for the Filipino, he must not resign to just forgetting, to being afraid of rocking the boat for fear of getting wet. Vigilance and awareness are important so as not to negate what the heroes in EDSA fought for ten years ago.
