MANILA, Philippines — The auction of more than P700 million worth of jewelry seized from Ilocos Norte Gov. Imelda Marcos has proven the existence of her family’s ill-gotten wealth, Senator Francis Pangilinan said on Friday.
“The sale of the P700-million Marcos jewels is proof of plunder during the Marcos dictatorship,” the senator said in a statement.
Pangilinan’s reaction came after President Rodrigo Duterte greenlighted on Thursday the selling Marcos’ jewelry collection valued at P708.4 million, which is also called “Hawaii Collection.”
READ: BREAKING: Duterte OKs auction of P704.8M Marcos jewelry
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte wants people to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of jewelry.
READ: Duterte gives go signal to sell Marcos jewelry
Meanwhile, Pangilinan said the price of the jewels was only a small portion of the estimated Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth which was paid for by the Filipinos.
“The jewels form a teeny-weeny portion of the estimated $10 billion (about P520 billion) Marcos illegal wealth paid for by the blood, sweat, and tears of all Filipinos,” Pangilinan said.
On Sept. 7, 2018, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) requested the Office of the President to approve its proposal to sell the jewelry collection, specifically the “Hawaii Collection.”
The PCGG sent copies of the request to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Commission on Audit Chair Michael Aguinaldo. (Editor: Eden Estopace)