Akbayan asks DOF to seize Marcoses’ bank accounts

Leaders of Akbayan Partylist on Monday submitted a letter-petition to the Department of Finance (DOF) urging it to “garnish” the bank accounts of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, Senator Imee Marcos, Mrs. Irene Marcos-Araneta and all of the administrators, heirs, and beneficiaries of the estate and of the person of the late ousted dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.

Akbayan filed the letter one week before the deadline of the country’s filing annual income tax returns (ITRs). It said that by garnishing the Marcoses’ bank accounts, the Filipino people can immediately collect the family’s unpaid estate taxes amounting to ₱203B.

“Ngayong nalalapit na ang deadline sa pagbabayad ng buwis at pag-gunita sa Semana Santa, panahon na para tapusin ang panghuhudas ni Bongbong Marcos at ng kanyang pamilya sa kaban ng bayan. Ika nga, ‘God knows hudas not pay.’ And the Marcoses have not paid for their crimes of plunder and tax evasion,” Akbayan First Nominee Perci Cendaña said.  

Cendaña, who is a signatory to the letter, said that there is no legal impediment preventing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) under the DOF from garnishing the Marcoses’ bank accounts. He said that garnishment is a legal process that allows a creditor to seize the bank accounts of a debtor to deduct unpaid debts. 

“It is clear that the Marcoses will not respond to gentle reminders. It is time for the government to take forceful action and seize the accounts of the Marcoses. Kung ang ordinaryong mamamayan ay may deadline sa pagbabayad ng buwis, bakit ang mga Marcoses ay laging nakakapuslit?” Cendaña said.  

Akbayan reiterated that the unpaid taxes of the Marcoses could create almost 2 million jobs for workers, increase fuel and transportation subsidies, and fully subsidize the online classes for 1 year of more than 10 million students.

Aside from Cendaña, other signatories to the letter are former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Etta Rosales, Akbayan Second Nominee Dr. RJ Naguit, Doris S. Nuval of the Claimants 1081, Joanna Bernice S. Coronacion of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and Jo Enrica Enriquez Rosales of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) – Asia Pacific.