The Supreme Court dismissed the Marcos family’s claim to a 57-hectare property in Barangay Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The court’s 55-page decision was made public on September 4. The Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (Carmma) and victims of martial law welcomed the court’s decision.

“Based on the SC decision, the Marcoses’ claim on a public land as their own, while seated in Malacanang, is one more proof of how the Marcoses used their power to expand their wealth,” Carmma said.

The decision written by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen states that the agreement between dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr and the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) signed on December 20, 1978 is unconstitutional. In this agreement, the PTA leased the property to the Marcoses for P1/year for 25 years.

The court affirmed that Marcos Sr’s claim to that property had no basis whatsoever. Paoay Lake and its surroundings are public property and cannot be privately appropriated, the court said.

Carrma said that declaring the property as “ill-gotten wealth” is particularly important as this is a first of such decisions under the Marcos II regime. It explained that this can also be considered a slap Marcos Jr’s face who repeatedly lied that his family did not accumulate millions worth of wealth during the dictatorship.

The decision is significant especially with the upcoming September 21 commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the martial law declaration for Carrma. “We are reminded that the fight for justice and accountability, and the struggle against historical distortion and impunity is far from over,” the group said.

The group fervently hopes that more Marcos ill-gotten wealth be recovered, and more lies and disinformation on the so-called Marcos golden years debunked.