PCGG welcomes probe on Marcos case setbacks

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) yesterday welcomed the plan of the Senate to investigate its recent string of failures to recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and their cronies.

The PCGG’s acting chairman, Reynold Munsayac, said they are ready to cooperate with the inquiry, which was announced by Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon on Tuesday.

Gordon had said he was disappointed that the P200-billion forfeiture case filed against the Marcoses was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan ostensibly for insufficient evidence.

He hinted that something might be “broken” in the PCGG and that it might have to hire more qualified lawyers.

“The PCGG welcomes Senator Gordon’s pronouncement that he intends to initiate a Senate inquiry on the recent Sandiganbayan decisions involving PCGG,” said Munsayac. “The PCGG will cooperate with the Senate and submit all available data regarding the cases.”

Munsayac, however, maintained that most of the cases in the Sandiganbayan were filed and litigated during previous administrations, including some that were already submitted for decision as early as 2010.

“In any event, the PCGG will closely coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General to ensure that all available remedies will be availed of to protect government interest,” he said.

The government this year lost four cases against the Marcos family and their alleged cronies, the latest of which was the P200-billion forfeiture case that was dismissed by the anti-graft court this week.

In its ruling, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division said that government lawyers merely presented photocopies of documentary evidence and failed to prove the existence of the originals.

“The bulk of the documentary evidence offered by the plaintiff (PCGG) are mere photocopies, most of which are barely readable. Thus, even if the Court were to defy the best evidence rule, it still could not fully ascertain the contents of these documents and make an intelligent evaluation therefrom,” read the 58-page decision.

The PCGG is one of the attached agencies under the Department of Justice.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday suggested that if the Senate would push through with an investigation over the PCGG’s failure to win its cases against the Marcos family, it should summon former PCGG officials.

“If there’s any legislative intent to strengthen the PCGG, I welcome the Senate inquiry. For purposes, however, of knowing how the PCGG handled the Marcos cases, it should be the past PCGG leaderships who should be summoned to explain.”

He added, “The current officials of the PCGG had hardly any involvement in the cases except to await the rendition of judgment.”