PCGG: Compromise on Marcos ill-gotten wealth up to GMA

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) yesterday virtually washed its hands of any compromise agreement by the government over the Marcos ill-gotten wealth, saying the matter must ultimately be decided by President Arroyo.

In an interview with reporters, PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio said the PCGG will only do what it is mandated to do — investigate and handle the prosecution of the Marcos family and their cronies with regards to their alleged hidden wealth amassed during the 20-year rule of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Sabio said all compromise agreements between the government and the Marcoses must be undertaken with the nation’s interests in mind and decided upon by the national leadership.

"The President will have to face the people," whatever her decision, Sabio said. "Our job is to investigate and to prosecute the cases. We do our best along that line."

"In the meantime, we conserve the sequestered assets and the surrendered assets," he added.

Sabio said it used to be the PCGG’s job to determine the validity of any compromise agreement or if it would be beneficial to the Filipino people.

Former first lady Imelda Marcos had expressed willingness to enter into a compromise agreement with the government over the billions of dollars supposedly stashed in various banks abroad.

However, then PCGG Chairwoman Haydee Yorac said that before any compromise could be reached the Marcos family must first meet three conditions — conduct a full disclosure or admit that they stole from the Filipinos, issue a public apology and return the money to the people.

Mrs. Marcos has rejected these conditions, stressing that the family did not steal and does not have such vast amounts.

In 2001, a proposed compromise settlement of the multibillion-peso coconut levy funds was brokered by Dante Ang, which Yorac said was illegal and immoral.

Yorac said the settlement would allow the Marcos cronies who had benefited from the coco levy, particularly former Marcos crony Eduardo Cojuangco, the late former Zamboanga City mayor Maria Clara Lobregat and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, to keep their plundered loot.

Because of this, Mrs. Arroyo and Yorac agreed on two conditions for any proposed deal. First, that it should not prejudice the government’s insistence on having the funds declared "public funds."

And second, the deal should benefit small coconut farmers and workers.

Sabio said that any compromise agreement will be discussed by Mrs. Arroyo, her cabinet, her lawyers and if necessary a consultation with the PCGG.

"These are the questions to be decided by the national leadership headed by the President," Sabio said. "The President will seek the counsel of the cabinet, her lawyers, the lawyer of the PCGG (who) is the Solicitor General, the secretary of justice, the officials of the entire executive department and the counsel of the President. It has to (reach) a decision with the national interest in mind."

"I suppose when the President has to make a wise decision, the PCGG, which is the one that will investigate and prosecute the cases, would be consulted by the President," Sabio added.

He however declined to comment on the status of the compromise deals, saying discussions are still ongoing.

On the conditions set by Yorac, Sabio said the various factors suggested by former senator Jovito Salonga would be considered.

Sabio said the decision for entering into a compromise agreement must carefully weigh legal, economic, moral and political factors.

"I suppose in the political department it is Congress which would have to be consulted," he said. "In the end though, all are merely suggestions and consultations and it would still be up to the President to have the final say."

Sabio said once a compromise agreement has been reached after several consultations, it would then be forwarded to the Sandiganbayan, which would determine if it would be beneficial to Filipinos. Whether it is approved or not, it would then be brought to the Supreme Court.

When asked if representatives from concerned parties would be party to the compromise deal, Sabio advised these parties to submit formal letters to the PCGG, which would then forward these to the President.

"I do not wish to be involved in (the) negotiation. I will stick to prosecution. If the Marcoses have anything to say, they have to make a formal proposal to us," he said.

"I think we (PCGG) should confine ourselves to our mandate... our main mandate is to assist the President in the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth," Sabio stressed.

He said only if Mrs. Arroyo asked for the PCGG’s help and suggestions on negotiations for a compromise deal would they move on working towards a compromise agreement.