Philippines’ anti-graft court dismisses $5M ill-gotten wealth case against the Marcoses

It’s another legal victory for the Marcos family, whose heir currently serves as president of the Philippines.
Camille Elemia
2024.10.09
Manila
Philippines’ anti-graft court dismisses $5M ill-gotten wealth case against the Marcoses Then-Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits the grave of his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., a day after partial results of national elections showed he was on course for a huge victory, in Taguig, Metro Manila, May 10, 2022.
BBM Official Page/Reuters

The Philippines’ anti-graft court has dismissed a 37-year-old corruption case against late President Ferdinand E. Marcos because of “excessive delays” – the latest dismissal in a series of cases claiming the Marcoses had amassed an ill-gotten fortune.

In a resolution dated Oct. 4, the court ruled that the ex-leader, his widow and an associate, Roman Cruz Jr., had “already been prejudiced by the inordinate delay” in the case, which was filed in July 1987.

“They can no longer be afforded a fair trial since the witnesses may have already died and the documentary evidence may no longer be located after more than 30 years from the filing of the complaint,” the ruling stated.

Critics of Marcos and his widow, Imelda, have accused their family of plundering up to U.S. $10 billion from state coffers during the former strongman’s rule (1965-1986). Massive human rights abuses also were allegedly carried out by the Marcos administration during 14 years of martial law, which began in 1972.

Imelda Marcos, 95, is the only surviving defendant among the three. Her husband died in 1989, while Cruz died in 2001. 

“Her ability to testify and recall the events has assuredly declined, as has her health,” the court said, referring to Imelda.

The Marcoses’ son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is the country’s current president. 

The case stemmed from Cruz’s alleged questionable transaction 53 years ago when he was president of the state pension fund, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), under the elder Marcos’ rule.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which filed the 276 million peso ($4.83 million) civil case, accused Cruz of fronting for the Marcos couple and buying an estate using government funds.

The PCGG was established shortly after a people-power uprising toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. The commission was mandated to recover the wealth stolen by the family, who fled to exile in Hawaii.

The court said the former leader’s heirs, including Ferdinand Marcos Jr., were still minors then and it would be difficult to obtain “testimonial and documentary evidence to prove their defense considering the time that has elapsed.”

The court also said the PCGG had a “lack of diligence in handling the cases” as seen in case records over the decades. 

On Wednesday, Philippine human rights groups and activists did not provide immediate comment to BenarNews about the latest anti-graft court ruling.


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In recent years, the anti-graft court has dismissed several cases against the Marcoses. 

Last year, the court threw out two separate ill-gotten wealth cases against the family and their alleged cronies for supposed lack of evidence. In January 2024, the court dismissed a similar case against several associates of the Marcos couple over thousands of shares of a telecommunication company allegedly held for the former president and first lady.

In 2023, however, the Marcoses lost when the court ruled with finality that the family could no longer reclaim their assets that were already recovered by the government and declared as part of their ill-gotten wealth.

As of 2021, the PCGG told Congress that it had recovered $3 billion in ill-gotten wealth but is seeking to recover billions more. 

000_ARP2278170.jpg
Then-Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (center) poses with the members of his family: his wife Imelda (third from right), eldest daughter Imee and her husband Tomas Manotoc (right), youngest daughter Irene and her husband Greggy Araneta (next to the president at left), his son Ferdinand Jr. (behind the president), his grandchildren Luis (in president's lap), Alfonso (Irene’s lap) and Borgy (left), being carried by the first couple’s ward Aimee, Jan. 15, 1986. [AFP]

Critics had questioned the effectiveness of the PCGG under the sitting President Marcos.

The PCGG, an attached agency of the Department of Justice, is part of the executive branch led by the president.

In January 2023, Marcos Jr. said he entered politics to cleanse his family’s name. 

“[F]or us to defend ourselves politically, somebody had to enter politics and be in the political arena. So that at least, not only the legacy of my father but even our own survival required that somebody go into politics,” the sitting Philippine leader said in Davos, Switzerland.

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