Marcoses no shows in hearing on Lucio Tan’s wealth
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:25:00 09/08/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice,Graft & Corruption
MANILA, Philippines -- Former First Lady Imelda Marcos and her daughter Imee were a no-show at the Sandiganbayan on Monday.
The Marcoses were expected to appear before the antigraft court’s Fifth Division on Monday to back government claims that 60 percent of business tycoon Lucio Tan’s corporate holdings belonged to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
But PCGG counsel Catalino Generillo informed the court that the summonses sent to the two Marcoses were not "duly served" by the court sheriff.
In the absence of the Marcoses, Generillo instead called to the stand the records custodian of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Amor Abagon, to present the official transcript of a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview with Ms Marcos in 1998, who said that all the shares of stocks held by Tan were her late husband’s.
"By presenting the transcript, it’s just like Mrs. Marcos testifying in court vicariously," Generillo told the Inquirer in an interview.
He, however, said that the PCGG would still subpoena the Marcoses to support the testimony of Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who claimed in August 2007 that Tan had even promised to help him learn how to run the businesses and also gave him a tour of some of these firms.
"We will still ask her to testify not because our case is weak but to make sure that there are no loopholes in our case," he said.
"We also want to prevent the defense from capitalizing on the absence of Mrs. Marcos," he added.
The former first lady was subpoenaed twice in June but failed to appear, with the first summon sent to the wrong address. She had to postpone her appearance on June 4 because she was sick.
The Inquirer story, which triggered a Senate inquiry after its publication on Dec. 9, 1998, elaborated claims of Mrs. Marcos that the late president gave money to invest in Tan’s companies "and make them big to employ many people."
According to the former first lady in the interview, Fortune Tobacco Corp., Allied Banking Corp., Asia Brewery Inc., Foremost Farms Inc., and the flagship company, Shareholdings Inc., were among the biggest companies held by Tan for Marcos.
In the story, Mrs. Marcos even called Tan a "magbobote" (small bottle trader) and a "small-time" businessman before he became a member of Marcos’ "inner circle."
But Tan’s lawyer Estelito Mendoza said the transcript was hearsay evidence.
"We will not object to the testimony to avert lengthy discussion but it pertains to hearsay evidence, therefore it is irrelevant."
The hearing will resume on September 11, with the PCGG "earnestly hoping" for the attendance of Mrs. Marcos. But the court said she might not come because the setting would fall on the late president’s birthday.
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