Sandigan orders forfeiture of Imelda’s jewelry

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan Special Division ordered yesterday the forfeiture of former first lady Imelda Marcos’ jewelry collection, declaring it as ill-gotten wealth.

In a 33-page decision, Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz said the collection was part of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and must be returned to the state.

Update: Forfeiture of Imelda's jewelry a 'victory' for Filipinos -PCGG

“Partial summary judgment is hereby rendered declaring the pieces of jewelry, known as the Malacañang Collection, as ill-gotten, and are hereby forfeited in favor of petitioner Republic of the Philippines,” the ruling stated.

Associate Justices Teresita Diaz-Baldos and Alex Quiroz concurred with the ruling.

The jewelry collection was confiscated by the government from Marcos in 1986.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), filed the petition on Dec. 17, 1991 with an assessment that the Malacañang collection was worth between $110,055 and $153,089.

The Marcos family tried to block the PCGG move, claiming the jewels were not covered by Civil Case No. 0141 filed in 1987.

The Sandiganbayan, however, affirmed PCGG’s position that the collection was part of the government claim in Civil Case No. 0141 along with the five Marcos Swiss foundations – Aguamina, Avertina, Palmy, Vibur and Maler – and the Arelma Foundation maintained in Singapore.

According to PCGG, the Malacañang collection, along with the Roumeliotes and Hawaii collections, is being kept in the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas  (BSP).

It consists of less expensive pieces the Marcoses left behind when they fled the country during the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

The Roumeliotes collection, meanwhile, is composed of 60 pieces of more extravagant jewelry and loose gemstones seized from Greek national Demetriou Roumeliotes on March 1, 1986 at the Manila International Airport as he was about to fly abroad.

The Hawaii collection consists of trinkets and baubles found in the Marcos family’s luggage when they arrived at the Honolulu International Airport in February 1986.

– With Helen Flores, Kathleen Martin