(Update) Block Imelda evidence in dollar-salting case, SB asked

(Updated 5:50 p.m.) The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has asked the Sandiganbayan to declare former First Lady Imelda Marcos in default for allegedly failing to file a pre-trial brief on a multi-billion peso ill-gotten wealth case. PCGG lawyer Edgardo Kilayko asked the graft court to grant the government's request, which would effectively prevent Marcos from presenting evidence to contest the charges. In effect, the court would have to judge the case using evidence submitted solely by one camp, which is the government in this case. Kilayko said Marcos as well as fellow defendants Go Pok, Peter Uy and Guy Sia Sim have yet to file their pre-trial briefs. In contrast, the PCGG already submitted its formal offer of evidence on Oct. 10, 1996 or more than ten years ago. PCGG's supplemental offer of evidence was submitted on Oct. 23, 2001. Four other defendants – Edna Camcam, Benito Peñalosa, Balbino Diego and Catalino Coo – have alleged skipped the pre-trial and hearing days. "The foregoing omissions, lapses and/or failures on the part of the defendants show lack of interest in controverting the evidence presented by the plaintiff. Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that defendants … be declared as having waived the right to present evidence," Kilayko asked the anti-graft court. The PCGG is seeking P50 billion in moral damages and P1 billion in exemplary damages. The government has alleged that during the Marcos regime, eight black market money traders from Binondo in Manila were coerced to take their dollars abroad to create an artificial demand in the Philippine market. Faced with threats from Imelda's husband, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, the money changers agreed and eventually brought the dollars back into the country after the forex prices soared. Upon Ferdinand's orders, the late Armed Forces chief Gen. Fabian Ver instructed the money traders to pool their dollars to form a "Binondo Central Bank" in 1983. The PCGG's complaint was lodged on July 22, 1987. Former trade minister Roberto Ongpin allegedly instigated the gathering of resources from the eight Binondo businessmen, identified as Uy, Pok, Coo, Peñalosa, Sio Lim and Raffy, Jimmy and Wilson Chua. Camcam, a former officer of the Equitable Banking Corp., allegedly assisted the operation. Ver's children Irwin, Wyrlo and Rexor Ver, Helma Ver-Tuazon and Faida Ver-Resurreccion are named respondents in the case. - GMANews.TV