Duterte greenlights public auction of Marcos jewelry

File Photo
File Photo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the public auction of the P704.8-million jewelry collection seized when dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his family fled from MalacaƱang at the height of the People Power Revolution more than three decades ago,

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed this in an interview with reporters in Japan on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Panelo said the President gave his approval on Wednesday night, May 29.

"Sabi ni Presidente kagabi na payag na makinabang ang taumbayan doon sa mga jewelry. So tinanong ko siya, 'Are you going to give the go signal?' Sabi niya, 'Yes,'" the Palace official said.

(The President last night agreed that the public should benefit from the jewelry. So I asked him, "Are you going to give the go signal?" He said, "Yes.")

The Commission on Audit's 2018 report had stated that the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) was merely awaiting Duterte's approval.

The Marcos jewelry collection is part of more than P1 billion worth of assets confiscated from the Marcoses and their cronies that have yet to be disposed of by the PCGG.

Among the jewelry pieces is a barrel-shaped diamond worth at least $5 million as of 2015 and a Cartier diamond tiara.

Imelda, 89, currently serves as a member of the House of Representatives.

She was convicted on November 9, 2018 of seven counts of graft for illegally funneling about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s when she served as Metropolitan Manila governor during her late husband's martial law regime.

She was ordered to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law, but was allowed to post bail of P150,000 (roughly $7,400).

Imelda is known worldwide for her huge jewelry and shoe collections. (SunStar Philippines)

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