The August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) disputes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assertion that his family’s wealth was not ill-gotten. In statements reported by Philippine outlets, the group challenges the president’s claim and says it disputes the characterization of the wealth as having been obtained unlawfully.
ATOM also raises broader concerns about accountability tied to the Marcos family’s past. One report says the group laments that no family member has spent time in jail since Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was toppled in 1986, and it cites the president’s remarks as unproven. Another outlet focuses more narrowly on ATOM’s rejection of the specific claim that “not ill-gotten” wealth remains accurate, describing the statement as untrue.
While both sources attribute the criticism to ATOM and center on the same presidential claim, they differ mainly in emphasis: one includes additional context about alleged lack of convictions or imprisonment, while the other highlights the denial of the president’s factual assertion about the wealth.
