45 years since Dad’s martial law, are Marcoses still calling the shots in the Philippines?

The family of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos still enjoys such influence over political life they may be granted immunity over their role in one of the darkest periods of Philippine history – thanks to President Duterte

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Imelda Marcos and Imee Marcos at the grave site of her husband, former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes Cemetery. Photo: AP

Published: 11:30am, 24 Sep 2017Updated: 11:30am, 24 Sep 2017

Zany Mique needs little reminding of the dark time in Philippine history 45 years ago when dictator Ferdinand Marcos placed the nation under martial law. She was imprisoned twice during that nine-year period – an era marked by widespread human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings, torture and incarcerations.

But she is worried others might forget just how dark that period was – particularly given President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that he is considering granting immunity to the late dictator’s family for their role in the martial law regime. Duterte said he might prod Congress to craft a law to protect the dictator’s remaining family members on the provision they return “some of their gold bars” and a portion of the ill-gotten wealth they amassed while Ferdinand was in power.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: EPA

Mique, 65, who joined thousands at a protest on Thursday to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, has been at the forefront of a years-long legal battle against the powerful Marcos family. She is the executive director of Claimants 1081, a group of 7,500 Filipinos seeking compensation for the suffering and loss they experienced under martial law. The group has filed a class suit against Marcos’s wife, Imelda, and son, Bongbong, after the two refused to comply with a US court ruling ordering them to pay victims US$353.6 million in damages. The Marcos family faces at least 15 civil and criminal cases.

Ferdinand Marcos with his son Bongbong. Photo: Malacanang Museum and Library

Were Duterte to follow through on his suggestion and the Philippine Congress pass a law granting the family immunity, Claimants 1081 would “question the law before the Supreme Court”.

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