In a video uploaded by WOW Vlog Facebook page, a self-proclaimed political analyst and chairman of the group National Filipinos Against Foreign Intervention (Nat-Fil) Ferdie Pasion claimed that the Marcos family never had any conviction in cases filed in Philippine courts and abroad. He further explained that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his wife, Imelda, both won several cases filed against them, many of which were filed by the administration of Corazon Aquino.

Pasion further stressed that the Marcoses should not apologize to the public since they have no convictions.

CLAIM:

The Marcos family has no court convictions

RATING:

FALSE 

FACTS:

Over the years, several national and international courts have ruled that the Marcoses amassed ill-gotten wealth.

The Swiss Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that US$120 million of the Marcoses’ assets were ill-gotten wealth kept in various Swiss bank accounts. This was followed by a similar ruling of the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) in 2003. Moreover, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also issued a P23.3 billion estate tax claim against the Marcoses, in connection to a “final and executory” SC ruling in 1999. Moreover, the Sandiganbayan convicted Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft in 2018 for amassing ill-gotten wealth funneled through private foundations she created in Switzerland during the Marcos dictatorship.

Also, a US federal court ruled that human rights violations were committed by and for the state during the Marcos administration and ordered the distribution of about US$2 billion taken from the Marcos estate in the US to nearly 10,000 victims of torture and killings during the Marcos years.

WHY THIS MATTERS: 

Presidential candidate, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., continues to deny these court-decided corruption cases and all other charges, further claiming that his father’s dictatorship was the country’s “golden era.” The video in question currently has over 66,000 views, with 3,600 reactions and 283 comments, most of which show agreement to the post’s false claims. – Maez Estrada and Joseph Gloria

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph. 

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