By Mario Casayuran
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said the conviction by the Sandiganbayan of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos of seven counts of graft is an important lesson in justice.
Senator Risa Hontiveros (JAY GANZON/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“The Marcoses may be able to temporarily evade accountability, they may be able, for the moment, to cheat history and whitewash their crimes with the use of "alternative facts" and fake news, they may climb their way back to power and even hide behind the back of President Rodrigo Duterte, but justice will eventually push its way through their walls of impunity,’’ Hontiveros said.
“They can dam a river but they can never dam the ocean. The waves of justice will always find a way to make them accountable,’’ she added.
Hontiveros expressed hopes that the ruling would serve as a crucial electoral guide to our voters this coming election.
“The people must not allow historical revisionism and the shameful trail of plunder, murder and dictatorship to win in the ballot box. The Filipino people must not allow our elections to be used to invalidate the people's struggle against the Marcos dictatorship,’’ she explained.
“I call on the public to closely monitor this case and all the other cases filed against the Marcoses. We must not allow the Marcos family to influence and undermine our collective process to search for truth, justice and accountability,’’ she added.