On Monday, Civic leader Gang Badoy Capati posted photos of a document that is allegedly a proposed compromise deal between the Marcos family and the Philippine government.
https://www.facebook.com/gangbadoycapati/posts/10156161913032755?pnref=story
The document was signed by lawyer and loyalist of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Oliver Lozano. Capati’s post quickly went viral, now with 1,000 shares and more than 900 reactions.
The document proposes that in exchange for giving their wealth to the poor, the sequestration order on the Marcos estate will be removed and that cases against the Marcos family be resolved.
“The Marcos family is not asking to dismiss pending criminal cases, just for pending cases of more than 30 years have a speedy trial,” Lozano told ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.
The palace said it merely acknowledged that it received the document, but that no action has been taken.
“The document was sent to the office by Attorney Oliver Lozano. Our office as a matter of courtesy and policy acknowledges receipt of any letter coming from any citizen. No action has been taken on Atty. Lozano’s proposal,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo told GMA News.
But the Marcos family has also denied any connection with the proposal.
Yesterday, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said: “The Marcos family has no knowledge or information on that apparent exchange and service of document (sic) between Atty. Lozano and the office of Sec. Sal Panelo.
“As a point of information, Atty. Oliver Lozano does not represent any member of the Marcos family or the estate of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.”
It’s not yet clear if Lozano submitted the proposal on anyone’s behalf (or because he’s just that much of a Marcos fan?).
In August last year, Duterte said the Marcos family was willing to return part of their illegally amassed wealth to the Philippine government to add to the country’s budget for this year. But in an interview in September of the same year, Duterte also said that he doesn’t think the Marcoses would agree to return the wealth without being granted immunity.
Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines for 21 years. He and his family allegedly stole anywhere from US$5 billion to US$10 billion in that time.
Despite being exiled to the United States, the Marcos family continues to be influential in national politics today. Bongbong was a senator and ran for vice president in 2016. His mother, Imelda Marcos, is a congressperson for the second district of Ilocos Norte. Imee Marcos, one of Marcos Sr. and Imelda’s daughters, is the governor of Ilocos Norte.
While Bongbong was not Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election, the two expressed support for each other during their campaigns.
