Duterte: Marcoses might ask for immunity for returning ‘loot’

The heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos might ask for immunity from suit if they return alleged ill-gotten wealth to the Philippine government, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday.

Duterte made the remark days after he announced that an emissary of the Marcoses told him that they were willing to turn over certain assets.

"Itong mga Marcos hindi ito papayag na isasauli nila tapos kulungin mo sila. Then, we have to craft a law on that. And that is immunity," Duterte said in an interview after attending the 55th anniversary celebration of the Metrobank.

"Hindi naman mga bobo iyan. 'O sige isauli pero huwag mo akong kulungin.' Ganoon iyan. Otherwise kung kulungin mo, bakit ko isauli?" he added.

Duterte said the Marcoses did not ask for immunity when they expressed willingness to return wealth.

"I cannot guarantee it also. I know I am not the proper authority to do that," Duterte said.

Duterte said that the Congress would need to write a new law to lay down the arrangements with the Marcos family.

"You have to have the consent of Congress because you have to formulate a law. What is the arrangement? You are asking for what? Immunity if you return? That's a long process. That doesn't belong to me," Duterte said.

He said any possible deal with the Marcoses would be outside cases already pending before the Sandiganbayan.

Duterte also distanced himself when asked if he is amenable to the possibility of waiving Marcoses' criminal liability.

"I cannot grant it. It's only Congress... I will take a neutral stand. Bigyan mo ng immunity, fine. Hindi mo bigyan ng immunity, fine," Duterte said. —NB/JST, GMA News