Gov't lawyers scolded for failure to present evidence in Marcos forfeiture case

Sandiganbayan justices on Thursday scolded government lawyers for their failure to present additional evidence in the forfeiture case against the late President Ferdinand Marcos and his immediate family members, including incumbent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Senator Imee Marcos.

Lawyers from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) earned the ire of Associate Justices Maryann Corpus Mañalac and Juliet San Gaspar when they asked the court for more time to present additional evidence under Civil Case 141 since the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is yet to be done with its investigation on possible remaining ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family.

Civil Case 141 is divided into 18 categories. Of the 18, some of those already ordered forfeited by the courts in favor of the government include: the secret deposits in Swiss banks worth at least US $658 million in year 2002, 146 expensive paintings by world-renowned artists worth at least US $24 million, the Malacañang jewelry collection, assessed to be worth from US $110,055 to US $153,089, among others.

“The order of the court directing you to submit a manifestation when you can present further evidence was issued as early as September 30, 2025. Why is it only now that you're coordinating with the PCGG?” San Gaspar pointed out.

“You can't just be grabbing any excuse to substantiate your allegation,” Mañalac added.

The justice then pressed the OSG lawyers for details of the properties which they think are ill-gotten and should be forfeited in behalf of the government, but the OSG lawyers said it will be premature to disclose it at this point.

Mañalac rejected such non-disclosure, saying that the OSG should instead let the PCGG take the witness stand.

“If you cannot say anything and you keep on calling the PCGG, why not put the PCGG people on the stand when you keep banking on their investigation?” she said.

“Why not put them [PCGG] to the stand? You don’t just come to court and ask for more time to conduct an in-depth investigation. This case is lagging behind,” Mañalac added.

The OSG panel, however, was firm on non-disclosure at this point.

“We understand about the court's frustration and we profusely apologize, Your Honor,” the OSG said.

In response, the defense counsels of the Marcos family sought for the submission of the case for partial summary judgment of the Civil Case 141, first filed in 1991.

As a result, Sandiganbayan Special Division chairperson and Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto ordered both parties to submit their respective position paper within a non-extendible period of five days after which the case will be submitted for resolution. —AOL, GMA News