The Manila Times
(UPDATE) THE Sandiganbayan’s Special Division has officially terminated the civil forfeiture case against the estate of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former first lady Imelda Marcos, thereby dismissing the case. In a seven-page resolution dated June 2 and written by Special Division chairman and Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto, the court said the petitioner, the Republic of the Philippines through the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), has already moved to defer reconsideration of the case, citing in-depth investigations and pending appeals. The case stemmed from a case filed by the PCGG on Dec. 17, 1991, to forfeit properties belonging to the Marcoses, as it was alleged to have been “unlawfully acquired” because their value was disproportionate to the couple’s lawful income during their tenure in government. Among the assets, which are valued at $5 billion, were holding companies, landholdings, properties by identified “cronies,” real estate in New York, jewelry, paintings and Swiss bank deposits. The court also said that the government has obtained four partial summary judgments, including the forfeiture of $658 million in Swiss bank deposits in 2003, the Arelma Accounts worth $3.37 million, the Malacañang Jewelry collection, and the proceeds from the sale of paintings and artworks. After the special division was reconstituted in 2025, the anti-graft court sought to determine the status of evidence regarding the remaining properties not covered by the previous four judgments and directed the petitioner if it would present evidence concerning the remaining properties. Instead of complying with the order, the petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration on Oct. 14, 2025, noting that further proceedings should not be conducted in the light of the pendency of consolidated appeals. This was denied by the court on Dec. 10, 2025. On May 12, respondents Imelda Marcos and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. filed their memorandum, while the PCGG filed a manifestation stating that it would no longer present evidence for the remaining properties, noting that this course of action was taken because most of these properties had already been recovered through other civil actions. Due to the express manifestation of the petitioner and the subsequent absence of evidence concerning the remaining properties, the proceedings for those specific assets were terminated. Reacting to the decision, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said the dismissal “effectively spared the Marcos heirs from further litigation over the remaining properties listed in the case — assets that originally included billions of dollars worth of alleged investments, real estate, bank deposits, and foreign accounts identified by the government after EDSA [Revolution].” “The question among Filipinos now is: how can the remaining assets be recovered if the government itself has backed out of presenting evidence? They have completely screwed over the Filipino people!” Duterte said. The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM), known for its involvement in the 1986 People Power Revolution, also condemned the decision. In a statement posted on the group’s Facebook page, the opposition group also pointed out that the PCGG, which was supposedly probing the Marcoses, “waved the white flag.” “Just because the Dutertes appear to be the main villains this month doesn’t mean you should dismiss cases against the Marcoses like a thief in the night. You thought we wouldn’t notice? The timing was rather obvious!” ATOM said. The group said that historical revisionism continues under the son of the Marcoses, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “We can name a few: the removal of heroes from our paper bills, including Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino; removing the special non-working holiday status of the 1986 EDSA People Power Anniversary; the attempt to confuse Ninoy Aquino Day holiday status in the past; and the continued absence of an apology for the sins of his father and mother to the Filipino people. Filipinos who were robbed throughout the dictatorship and, just like during the Duterte administration, families who lost the lives of their loved ones under the brutal military rule,” ATOM said. “And we remember how economist Solita Monsod, in the last 1986 People Power Anniversary, delivered a slideshow report that the most corrupt administrations that our country ever had are still the Marcos Sr. and the Marcos Jr. administrations. And a consolation prize showing in the report that the Duterte administration is close behind the Marcoses, also among the most corrupt,” they added. The opposition group warned that more new tyrants would rise until any member of the Romualdez, Marcos, and Duterte family is held accountable. “Even if we continue to run after the Dutertes for their sins against the people, we should never stop demanding accountability from the Marcoses and the Romualdezes at the same time. It’s not about politics. It’s about ending this cycle of curse in our country. The original sin of failing to hold the Marcoses accountable remains,” the group said. “The cycle needs to end! Jail all the corrupt!” they concluded.
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