WHAT WENT BEFORE: PCGG and Marcos ill-gotten wealth

As part of its efforts to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) filed Civil Case No. 0033 in 1987.

On March 24, 1999, the Sandiganbayan allowed the subdivision of the case into eight complaints—Civil Case No. 0033-A to Civil Case No. 0033-H—each pertaining to distinct transactions and properties and charging only the parties alleged to have participated in the relevant transactions or to have owned the specific properties involved.

Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of President Ferdinand Marcos’ most trusted associates and his defense minister, was one of the more than 50 people charged under 0033-A, or the Anomalous Purchase and Use of First United Bank (now United Coconut Planters Bank), and 0033-H or Behest Loans and Contracts.

In May 2004, a Sandiganbayan resolution upheld earlier Sandiganbayan rulings in 0033-A and 0033-F which state that the coconut levy funds are special funds of the government. Case 0033-F is a forfeiture case concerning two blocs of San Miguel Corp. shares comprising at least 47 percent of the outstanding shares of stocks of the food and beverage giant.

The resolution also considered the motion to dismiss filed by Enrile on Sept. 4, 2000, as overtaken by the Republic’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and/or Partial Summary Judgment as the decision for 0033-F has made 0033-H moot and academic.

Source: Supreme Court, Inquirer Archives