A LESSON IN JUSTICE, AN ELECTORAL GUIDE TO VOTE AGAINST THE MARCOSES' TRAIL OF PLUNDER AND TYRANNY

*Statement of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on the Sandiganbayan finding Rep. Imelda Marcos guilty of 7 counts of graft

This is an important lesson in justice. 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. 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.

I hope this 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.

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.