Bongbong mistakenly ‘abolishes’ PCGG
Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday falsely claimed the abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the agency tasked to go after the ill-gotten wealth amassed by the Marcos family and cronies during the dictatorship of his father.
During a forum in Quezon City yesterday, Marcos said the PCGG is already abolished when asked about the appeal of his sister Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos for the people to move on from the crimes committed during the martial law regime.
“What are we going to do about it now? PCGG has been abolished,” he said.
PCGG chairman Reynold Munsayac quickly rebuked Marcos’ claim, saying they continue to function as mandated by the executive order issued by former president Corazon Aquino following the fall of the dictatorship.
“As far as we know, the proposed bill that would abolish PCGG was only be approved in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate,” he told The STAR.
“Currently, PCGG is still existing and continuing to perform its mandates and functions,” he added.
PCGG officials earlier opposed the proposed legislation that will dissolve the agency and transfer its mandate to the Office of the Solicitor General.
It said that abolishing the commission might result in the failure to recover the remaining ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, including the $42 million (around P2.1 billion) from the Arelma funds previously declared as ill-gotten by the Supreme Court.
“Once PCGG is abolished, the momentum of recovery, if not the recovery itself, is lost. Then we say goodbye to recovery. Indeed, crime pays its ways,” said the commission in a statement.
The commission also denied claims of inefficiency, citing high remittance that reached as much as over P73 billion since 2012.
It also released target of recovering as much as P100 billion worth of ill-gotten wealth in the next three years.
“PCGG is surprised at the recent questions regarding its performance, relevance and efficiency,” said the agency.
“Why is there a question
on its budget and relevance when PCGG’s cost to recovery ratio is exemplary as shown by these numbers?” it added.
Despite opposing the proposal for the PCGG abolition, Munsayac said the final decision on its abolition would still be up to President Duterte.
Duterte has previously expressed his inclination to abolish the commission and replace it with an agency that will pursue corruption cases across different administrations.
Marcos claimed that there will be no apologies and no negotiations on any alleged ill-gotten wealth.
He said that his family is urging Filipinos to move on from the atrocities of Marcos Sr.’s two-decade rule.
Marcos, who was defeated for the vice-presidency in 2016, said that the 1986 EDSA revolution had already decided his family’s fate so the nation has to move on from what happened more than 30 years ago. “The government fell, kinasuhan kami, may (they filed cases against them, there was a) decision kontra samin (against us). It is done. Ano pang gusto
niyong gawin (what else do you want)? There are so many problems na hinaharap ng Pilipinas, bat natin pinagaaksayahan
ng panahon (the country is facing, why waste time on this).
Tapos na ito (this is finished),” he said during a forum.
Governor Marcos earlier this week said the nation should move on from the martial law issue as the country commemorated the assassination of former senator Benigno Aquino.
The younger Marcos said he understand his sister’s sentiments and expressed frustration after being asked if his family would say sorry in order for the Filipinos to move on, as Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan have urged following Imee’s statement.
“I have answered this question a thousand times, my answer has not changed,” the son of the late dictator said.
Marcos claimed there are “political” reasons why his family is still being haunted by his father’s regime, one marked by extensive human rights violations.
He also denied that there are talks for the Marcos family to return their ill-gotten wealth, despite the pronouncement of President Duterte last year that they are willing to return stolen loot, including gold bars.