The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is seeking the immediate turnover to the government of the P36.55 million Marcos deposits that were earlier frozen by the Sandiganbayan after the graft court found that the deposits were illegally siphoned from the National Food Authority in 1983.
 
In a motion filed Tuesday, PCGG asked the court to order the Philippine Veterans Bank, where the funds are deposited, to issue a check in the name of the Commission in favor of the Republic of the Philippines.
 
The case was decided in September 9, 2010 but was not enforced until June this year when the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division issued a garnishment order and ordered the deposits frozen. 
 
The graft court had ordered Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos to return the P10 million that former President Ferdinand Marcos allegedly pocketed  from NFA and transferred to a private account at Security Bank. 
 
In addition to the principal, the court also ordered Marcos to pay 29 years of interest, with the total now at P34 million, plus additional penalties of P1 million in moral damages, P500,000 in exemplary damages, P250,000 in nominal damages, and P200,000 in attorney’s fees, as well as litigation costs.
 
In a letter to the Sheriff’s Office, PVB Legal Officer Rydely C. Valmores confirmed that the Marcos account has enough funds to cover the garnishment amount.
 
Freeze orders have also been imposed on other bank accounts and real estate properties of the Marcos family in San Juan City but Sandiganbayan acting chief sheriff Albert A. Dela Cruz said the writs will be lifted once the PVB have turned over the full amount. — AE/ELR, GMA News