Filtered By: Topstories
News

Marcoses may bid for Imelda’s ill-gotten jewelry in auction —Palace


Members of the Marcos family may bid for the ill-gotten jewelry that the government seized from graft convict Imelda Marcos when the P704.8-million collection is auctioned off, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Monday.

Panelo made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte approved last week the auction of graft convict Imelda Marcos' jewelry to immediately benefit Filipinos "who are in urgent need of governmental aid."

Asked if the Marcos would be prevented from submitting their own bids for the pieces of jewelry, Panelo said, "I don’t think so, kung auction."

"I do not know of any law prohibiting any person from bidding, if you are qualified," Panelo said at a news briefing.

"Everybody is free to bid... Unless there are requirements for a qualification na gagawin nung auctioneer, kung meron eh you will have to pass through the qualification," he added.

Panelo said the Palace would block any attempt from the Marcos family if they would try to prevent the public auction from pushing through.

"If they do, then we will oppose it. 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.

"As far as we are concerned, these properties have been declared to be ill-gotten, that’s why precisely it has to sold. If that was the court decision then we have to abide by it," he added.

Panelo on Friday said Duterte's political alliance with Imelda's daughter Imee was not a factor when the chief executive approved the auction of the jewelry collection the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) seized following the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986.

The jewelry collection is part of more than P1 billion worth of assets seized from the Marcoses and their cronies that have yet to be disposed by the PCGG.

Other properties include real estate worth P336 million and shares of stock in various companies amounting to P40.35 million. —NB, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT