Gov’t firms up evidence vs Lucio Tan

Lucio Tan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Commission on Good Government said it has presented enough evidence to show that tycoon Lucio Tan’s assets were allegedly acquired illegally, and asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to order the multi-billionaire taipan  and his co-accused to return these to the Filipino people or to pay the state their corresponding value.

In its own memorandum for its forfeiture case against Tan, the PCGG, through the Office of the Solicitor General, also asked for P1 billion in exemplary damages.

The forfeiture case against Tan has been pending for over 20 years, but it is already in its final stages in the Sandiganbayan since both the state and the defendant have finished presenting their evidence. The filing of the memorandum usually follows.

Earlier, Tan submitted his own memorandum and asked the anti-graft court to dismiss the government’s case against him for lack of proof to show that any of his assets were ill-gotten or belonged to the state in the first place. He also asked for P300 million in damages.