Sandigan asked to order Imelda Marcos to pay gov’t P12M

MANILA, Philippines—State lawyers have asked the Sandiganbayan to implement its 2010 ruling ordering Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos to pay the government nearly P12 million, plus interest, representing damages and ill-gotten funds taken from the National Food Authority.

In an omnibus motion, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Presidential Commission on Good Government said the anti-graft court’s ruling, handed down on Sept. 9, 2010, should be implemented.

“Records reveal that Imelda R. Marcos, as defendant and as legal representative of her spouse, co-defendant Ferdinand E. Marcos, did not file a motion for reconsideration or an appeal of the decision.

The case is now ripe for execution,” they said.

They said that since the ruling was a judgment for money, the decision could be executed by demanding from Marcos, who is now a lawmaker, payment in cash, certified bank check or any other form of payment acceptable to the government.

In case she could not pay all or part of her obligation, she should provide a list of properties of every kind and nature which may be disposed of, and a list of debts due her and other credits, including bank deposits, financial interests, royalties, commissions and other personal property in control of third parties.

The state lawyers also said they were withdrawing their partial motion for reconsideration contesting the dismissal of the case against Cesar Aquino, Marcos’ co-defendant, since he could not be located.

In its September ruling, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division directed Marcos to return P10 million in illegally disbursed funds from the National Food Authority (NFA), plus interest.

The court also ruled that Marcos should pay the state P1.95 million in moral, exemplary and nominal damages, plus attorneys fees.

It said the P10 million, representing proceeds from the NFA’s rebate granted by the Philippine National Lines, were illegally transferred to private coffers.

It said that then President Marcos had verbally instructed NFA administrator Jesus Tanchanco to withdraw the funds. Tanchanco, who served as the government’s witness, then delivered the money to the Security Bank in Makati.