PCGG taps Ombudsman in probe on Imee Marcos' 'offshore accounts'

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has tapped the Office of the Ombudsman in its investigation on the offshore accounts allegedly owned by Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. According to PCGG Information Office chief Nick Suarez, the PCGG evaluation team has completed its preliminary investigation and a 12-page report has been submitted to the commission en banc. "The PCGG said the Commission will be furnishing the Office of the Ombudsman and Department of Justice with said report once finalized,” Suarez said. “The PCGG is now closely coordinating with the office of the Ombudsman on a joint investigation." The preliminary report will be kept confidential "at this time... given the sensitive nature of the matter, until certain legal and factual issues are verified and resolved," Suarez said. A report published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) alleged that Marcos, 57, had failed to declare the trust in the British Virgin Islands as legally required. A separate report said that San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. were also tied to offshore accounts. Both have denied having such accounts. Malacañang, however, said the PCGG’s mandate does not cover the alleged accounts of the two lawmakers. The PCGG's mandate is to hunt the alleged ill-gotten wealth of late strongman Marcos. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News