Philippine government’s P581.3-million forfeiture case against the Marcoses dismissed
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After a 36-year pursuit, the government’s efforts to recover nearly P600 million in assets from the late Ferdinand Marcos, his widow Imelda, and their cronies have come to an end.
The Sandiganbayan dismissed another civil forfeiture case, Civil Case No. 14, which included President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as one of the defendants.
In a 45-page decision, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division ruled that state prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that close associates of the Marcoses had acted as proxies to acquire ownership and control over various hotel and resort companies through loans from government institutions.
The court deemed the presented evidence as “insufficient” and noted that some documents submitted by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) were mere photocopies.
The case, filed in 1987 by the PCGG, accused Modesto, Trinidad, and Leandro Enriquez; Rebecco and Erlinda Panlilio; and Don Ferry, Roman Cruz, and Gregorio Castillo of taking advantage of their close ties with the Marcoses, who were in exile in Hawaii at the time. Allegedly, they obtained loans and financial assistance from the Government Service Insurance System and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The companies involved in the case were Fantasia Filipina Resorts, Inc.; Hotel Properties, Inc.; Monte Sol Development Corp.; Ocean Villas Condominium Corp.; Olas del Mar Development Corp.; Philippine Village Hotel; Philroad Construction Corp.; Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club Inc.; Silahis International Hotel; Sulo-Dobbs Food Services Inc.; and Ternate Development Corp.
The state prosecutors aimed to secure forfeiture of assets valued at approximately P581.3 million and seek damages in favor of the government.
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