MANILA — The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) has accused the Sandiganbayan and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) of effectively shutting down efforts to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth from the Marcos family after the anti-graft court dismissed the remaining asset claims in a decades-old forfeiture case.
The group described the development as a major blow to accountability efforts and criticized the timing of the dismissal, which came after the PCGG informed the court that it would no longer present additional evidence on unresolved portions of Civil Case No. 0141.
In a statement, ATOM said the decision effectively ends the government’s attempt to pursue the remaining assets covered by the case.
“Just because the Dutertes appear to be the main villains this month doesn’t mean you should dismiss cases against the Marcoses like a thief in the night,” the group said. “Sobrang halata naman iyong timing nito.”
ATOM, which was formed in the wake of the 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., said the PCGG had abandoned its mandate to recover wealth allegedly amassed during the Marcos regime.
The organization also pointed to the 2018 conviction of former First Lady Imelda Marcos on seven counts of graft, noting that the Sandiganbayan’s sentence has yet to be enforced.
The forfeiture proceedings stemmed from complaints filed in 1991 alleging that members of the Marcos family diverted public funds into private accounts overseas.
According to ATOM, the dismissal of the remaining claims risks eroding public trust in the country’s justice and accountability institutions.
ATOM said the developments “proved to everyone that crime does pay.”
The group further argued that the failure to fully resolve corruption-related cases involving the Marcos family has emboldened similar practices among political clans and dynasties.
It also stressed that many victims of human rights abuses committed during the martial law period continue to wait for justice more than three decades after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship.
“And a lot of them are still alive. They never moved on. They never got justice. Sana huwag din nating kalimutan na namatay na lamang ng walang pagkakakulong si Ferdinand Marcos Sr.,” it added.
ATOM urged the public not to abandon calls for accountability despite the latest court ruling.
“It’s not about politics. It’s about ending this cycle of curse in our country. The original sin of failing to hold the Marcoses accountable remains,” ATOM said.
The criticism came after the Sandiganbayan dismissed the remaining asset claims in the forfeiture case following the PCGG’s manifestation that it would no longer present further evidence on unresolved portions of the proceedings./PN
