Sandiganbayan stopped from seizing Imelda Marcos paintings at Congress

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 10 years ago

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. AFP FILE PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD

MANILA, Philippines –House of Representatives officials prevented the Sandiganbayan officials from seizing prized artworks supposedly displayed at Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos’s office.

According to the anti-graft court’s Sheriff report, the Sandiganbayan tracked down nine prized paintings in Marcos’s office in Congress.

1) “Madonna and Child” by Michelangelo Buonarotti;

2) “Vase of Red Chrysanthemums” by Bernard Buffet;

3) “Still Life with Idol” by Paul Gaugin;

4) “L’ Aube” by Joan Miro;

5) “Femme Cauchee VI” by Pablo Picasso;

6) “Jardin de Kew Prés de la Serre, 1892” by Camille Pissarro

7) “La Baignade au Grand Lemps” by Pierre Bonnard

8) “Picnic (Grandma Moses) 1959” by Anne Mary Robertson

9) “Moon Madness 1982” by Andrew Wyeth

The court said they were prevented to take away the paintings by House officials and Marcos’ staff because the court failed to get clearance from Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Sheriff Romulo Barrozo, however, placed the nine paintings under custodia legis and signed at the back of each one.

The sheriff also served a duplicate copy of the writ to Filadelfo “Bebot” Diaz, chief of staff of Rep. Marcos who was told that the artworks were already effectively covered by the order of attachment and therefore cannot be moved without approval by the Sandiganbayan First Division

This was witnessed by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and representatives of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Solicitor General.

The staff of the former first lady said the pieces were only copies and not the originals.

The Sandiganbayan’s seizure order is related to the civil forfeiture case filed against Rep. Marcos and her heirs.

Last September 30, court sheriffs seized 15 artworks from the Marcos residence in San Juan City.

The paintings were endorsed to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for preservation and safekeeping.