Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court has affirmed a Sandiganbayan decision dismissing the ill-gotten wealth case filed by the Philippine government against the estate of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and others.
The high court’s decision resolved the consolidated cases originating from the complaint for recovery and reconveyance of ill-gotten wealth filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) before the Sandiganbayan.
“The recovery of ill-gotten wealth, with its laudable purpose initiated as it is ‘not only out of considerations of simple justice but also out of sheer necessity,’ places a heavy responsibility on the Republic and poses a demanding task for the Sandiganbayan and this Court,” the Supreme Court said in its decision promulgated on October 3 but only made public on Tuesday.
“As the party seeking the recovery, the Republic has the burden of establishing its claim through admissible and relevant evidence. As vanguards of justice, the Sandiganbayan, and ultimately, this Court, have the obligation not only to meticulously analyze and weigh all the pieces of evidence — separating the unsubstantiated from those proved, discarding the irrelevant and inadmissible — but also to ensure that issues already passed upon are not litigated anew,” it added.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and his family during his proclamation on May 25, 2022. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
Named as respondents in the consolidated cases were former first lady Imelda Marcos and her children, Sen. Imee Marcos, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta.
The PCGG filed a complaint before the Sandiganbayan in 1987 against Marcos Sr., Imelda, Lucio Tan, Don Ferry and 22 others for alleged ill-gotten wealth.
In 2012, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the complaint, saying the prosecution failed to prove that the assets and properties were ill-gotten.
