Sandiganbayan dismisses civil suits vs alleged Marcos Sr. ‘cronies’

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MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the civil cases against former Senator and now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, late tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, and others, related to their alleged ill-gotten wealth.

In its resolution dated December 6, the anti-graft court’s Second Division dismissed the Civil Cases Nos. 0033-A and 0033-F.

Reports revealed that the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) filed a civil case against Cojuangco, late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his wife former first lady Imelda Marcos, and their other alleged cronies.

READ: SC orders Sandigan to dismiss civil suits vs late tycoon Danding Cojuangco

In July 1987, a civil suit against Cojuangco was filed. The complaint was amended three times, the last of which was in 1991. Then, in 1999, the Sandiganbayan subdivided the case into eight complaints—all related to the coco levy funds.

Civil Case 0033-A is one of the eight complaints about the questionable purchase of First United Bank (now United Coconut Planters Bank) and acquisition of SMC shares of stock.

“WHEREFORE, premises considered, plaintiff’s manifestation and the attached PCGG Resolution to the effect that it is no longer pursuing the remaining causes of action for damages against the defendants in Civil Cases Nos. 0033-A and 0033-F is NOTED,” the resolution reads.

“Civil Case No. 0033-A is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice as between plaintiff Republic and the defendants therein, due to the withdrawal of plaintiff Republic. However, Civil Case No. 0033-A shall REMAIN ACTIVE until the final disposition of Subic Air’s complaint-in-intervention. Civil Case No. 0033-F is hereby DISMISSED with prejudice due to the withdrawal of plaintiff Republic,” it adds.