Palace to oppose any Marcos move to block sale of jewels

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is ready to oppose any move from the Marcos camp to block the public auction of the P704.8-million jewelry collection seized from former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued this remark days after President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the public auction of the Marcos Hawaii jewelry collection.

READ: BREAKING: Duterte OKs auction of P704.8M Marcos jewelry

“If they do [oppose], then we will oppose it because that’s the right thing to do. We feel that, as the President says, the proceeds have to go to the Filipino people who are in urgent need of government aid,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

The Palace official said that “as far as we’re concerned, these properties have been declared to be ill-gotten, that’s why precisely, it has to be sold.”

“If that was the Court’s decision, then we have to abide by it,” he said.

Malacañang has earlier assured the public that the proceeds of the public auction of the jewelry would be given to Filipinos in need of urgent government assistance. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

READ: Proceeds of Marcos jewelry auction to go to Filipinos in dire need of aid — Palace