‘Marcoses acquired ill-gotten wealth, but…’

Former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos’ admissions and the testimony of a former bank official are "prima facie" evidence that the Marcos family acquired P200.25 billion in ill-gotten wealth, the Sandiganbayan ruled yesterday.

However, the anti-graft court found insufficient evidence to link family members — including the Marcos children, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta — to the illegal act.

The court also cleared Irene’s husband, Gregorio Araneta III, and businessmen Yeung Chun Kam, Yeung Chun Fan and Yeung Chun Ho in the case.

In its resolution the Sandiganbayan’s 4th division ruled that the admission by Mrs. Marcos that all the properties and bank accounts identified in Civil Case No. 0002 belonged to her family without any explanation as to how the assets were legally acquired "already raises a prima facie presumption that such funds and properties are ill-gotten."

Associate Justice Gregory Ong, 4th division chairman, wrote the 120-page decision.

"We find that the evidence presented by the plaintiff constitutes a prima facie case against Imelda Marcos," read the court’s ruling.

"The ownership of funds and properties, the value of which are grossly disproportionate to their lawful income, already raises a prima facie presumption that such funds and properties are ill-gotten."

The Sandiganbayan also gave credence to the deposition of Rolando Gapud, former Security Bank and Trust Co. CEO and president, that as financial executor of the Marcos couple, he personally opened several numbered peso and dollar accounts for them to allegedly use as conduits to transfer "huge amounts" to the US and other countries.

In her reply, dated Nov. 22, 1993, Mrs. Marcos admitted that all the properties listed in the complaint belonged to her family.

However, their wealth was "lawfully acquired," she added. — Mike Frialde