PCGG: Bongbong lied when he said gov’t has given up on Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth
It’s clear that Vice Presidential candidate Senator Bongbong Marcos has been lying when he said the Aquino government is not pursuing anymore the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, the Presidential Commission on Good Government said on Monday.
PCGG Public Information Office Chief James Carlos said besides being signatory of a few appeals and motions for the case, the Supreme Court made it clear the defendants in the Marcoses ill-gotten wealth cases are Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, Senator Bongbong and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos as well as their younger sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta, on the basis that they still hold and most probably are in control of the reported ill-gotten properties.
PCGG acting chief Richard Roger Amurao said in a statement on Monday, the recovered ill-gotten wealth would reach P170 billions in the past 30 years after the Edsa People Power Revolution. Around P32 billions are still being pursued by the PCGG while 19 cases are still pending at the Sandiganbagan.
Besides the cases mentioned, the PCGG said it continues to receive information on other ill-gotten assets by the Marcoses. These include the alleged involvement of Imee Marcos as one of the beneficiaries in an off-shore company called Sintra Trust that was formed in 2002 at the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Also on the list as beneficiaries are her children, namely Tomas Manotoc, Ferdinand Richard Michael Marcos Manotoc, Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc and Fernando Martin Marcos Manotoc.
In the documents being kept by the PCGG, it was revealed that Governor Imee continues to serve as financial advisor to Sinta Trust and ComCentre Corporation.
The PCGG said they have a lead on these cases thought they refused to divulge to the public.
Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the Aquino administration continues to pursue the cases against the Marcoses. They hope the changes of leadership in 2016 would also prioritize the said cases.
“The Government, thru the PCGG, exerted all possible efforts in going after the ill-gotten wealth of the former dictator and his cohorts and will continue to pursue all the cases that it filed. Government is one with the Filipino people in seeing these cases finally resolved by our courts,” said Coloma.
Senator Marcos was first criticized by anti-martial law groups because of he used to avoid answering questions regarding the said period in Philippine history ruled by his father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The said groups also try to block his candidacy in this year’s elections due to the premise “like father like son.”
Much earlier, Senator Marcos was tagged in the PDAF kickback scam by whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Luy said Senator Marcos was among the lawmakers who earned from Janet Napoles fake NGOs.
