Imelda Marcos asks Sandiganbayan to return seized paintings
This file photo taken on June 7, 2007 shows former first lady Imelda Marcos is seen in her apartment in Manila with a gallery of paintings including a Picasso, seen at upper right. Philippine authorities moved on September 30, 2014 to seize paintings by Picasso, Gauguin, Miro, Michelangelo and other masters held by Imelda Marcos after getting a court order against the former first lady. AFP FILE PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD
MANILA, Philippines–Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos on Wednesday questioned the Sandiganbayan’s order to seize eight prized paintings from the family’s San Juan residence, as she decried the use of threats and force in the implementation of the order.
In a motion filed before the Sandiganbayan, Marcos appealed to the court to issue a stay order deferring the implementation of the seizure order. She asked the court to have the seized paintings returned.
The antigraft court’s special division had ordered the seizure of the paintings and their transfer to the custody of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
This seizure order was related to the civil forfeiture case filed against Marcos and her heirs.
Subject to the seizure are the following paintings:
Article continues after this advertisement– LaBaignade Au Grand Temps by Pierre Bonnard
Article continues after this advertisement– Madonna and Child by Michelangelo Buonarroti
– Vase of Red Chrysanthemums by Bernard Buffet
– Still Life with Idol by Paul Gauguin
– Portrait of the Marqueza de Sta. Cruz by Francisco de Goya
– L’Aube by Joan Miro
– Femme Couche VI (Reclining Woman VI) by Pablo Picasso
– Jardin de Kew pres de la Serre 1892 by Camille Pissarro
Marcos’ lawyers had questioned the order to seize the eight paintings since they claimed that they were not included in a forfeiture case that the government had filed against the Marcoses.
Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and the PCGG had also raided the Marcos Museum in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, but failed to find the expensive paintings.
Last month, the court ordered the forfeiture of the Marcoses’ Arelma assets deposited in New York, whose amount had ballooned to $40 million due to incurred interests since 1972.
