Bongbong willing to testify against dad’s cronies

Newly elected Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said yesterday he would like to testify against alleged cronies of the Marcos administration.

Lawyers of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) were elated that the son of the late strongman finally agreed to provide testimony in the government’s case against former Marcos crony Lucio Tan.

During yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan’s fifth division, the Office of the Solicitor General manifested to the Sandiganbayan that Marcos has instructed his lawyers to accept the subpoena, which the government had been trying to serve him since February.

This was confirmed in open court by Marcos’ legal counsel, lawyer Maricar Bautista, an associate from the Marcos, Ochoa, Serapio & Tan Law Firm.

In 1987, the PCGG filed a forfeiture case against Lucio Tan and his companies, including Fortune Tobacco Corp., Asia Brewery Inc., Allied Banking Corp., Foremost Farms, Himmel Industries Inc., Grandspan Development Corp., Silangan Holdings, Inc., Dominium Realty and Construction Corp. and Shareholdings Inc.

The Sandiganbayan then gave the government five hearing dates within which to present evidence against Tan. 

The next hearing dates are scheduled for June 27 and 28.

However, Bautista said in yesterday’s hearing that Marcos will not be able to attend the hearings on June 27 and 28 due to other commitments as a newly elected congressman. He will also not be able to attend the hearings scheduled on July 30 and 31, also due to pressing commitments, said Bautista.

The Sandiganbayan tentatively set the hearing on Aug. 1 for Marcos to testify, though that still subject to confirmation by his legal counsel.

Bautista told The STAR that though Marcos has expressed willingness to testify in favor of the government, Tan’s legal counsel, lawyer Estelito Mendoza, had objected to the plan.

“Atty. Mendoza objected to the motion…the court already issued an order stating that June 27 and June 28 will be last days for the presentation of evidence. Given the fact the Marcoses expressed willingness to testify for the Republic, we have to adjust the dates again,” Bautista told The star in an exclusive interview at the Sandiganbayan.

Bautista and other legal counsels of the Marcoses ­– Eloisa Sy and Elaine Masukad – said they “cannot state for the record” what Marcos will be testifying on.