‘Wealth deal needs Congress OK’

MANILA, Philippines -  The negotiations for the return of the Marcos wealth would require the action of Congress, according to President Duterte, as he denied that he has forged a deal with the family.

Duterte said that talks about the recovery of the wealth would involve many stages and require congressional approval.

“If there is really sincerity in everybody’s heart, we have to start with Congress,” the President told reporters in Davao City last Saturday night.

“Congress must authorize because that is money to be recovered by the government of the Philippines and that was the offer. That was the rationale of the governor when she offered,” he said, referring to Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman who ruled from 1965 to 1986.

Duterte clarified that he could not dictate on Congress once it tackles the offer of the Marcoses.

“It has to be a law. And the law must come from Congress, not from me… I cannot say with finality that this is what is going to happen because there will be so many stages,” the President said.

The late president Ferdinand Marcos was ousted through the 1986 People Power revolution, a historic event that ended what his critics described as a presidency tainted with corruption and cronyism.

His successor, the late president Corazon Aquino, formed the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

Last week, Duterte revealed that the Marcoses were ready to return the wealth that the late strongman had kept supposedly to “protect the economy.”

The Chief Executive said he did not know if the explanation was true but nevertheless welcomed the offer as it could help the government plug its budget deficit.

Duterte’s revelation earned him criticisms from anti-Marcos groups, who accused him of being a spokesman for the family and of trying to shield its members from cases.

The President said it would be up to the justice department to decide whether to file cases in relation to the Marcos wealth.

“If the government decides to pursue, prosecution…that realm would belong to the Secretary of Justice,” Duterte said.

“Maybe there would be a compromise; if there is none, then you proceed,” he added.

Duterte said Marcos’ daughter, Governor Marcos, “was not ready to announce” that the wealth accumulated was ill-gotten. She supported Duterte’s presidential bid in last year’s national elections.

“I just accepted their explanation that they want it settled. And that was the offer. That was the rationale of the governor when she offered,” the President said.

Duterte also scored former PCGG chief Ruben Carranza, who earlier told ABS-CBN News that accepting the Marcoses’ offer to return a part of their wealth can only proceed unlawfully because of a court ruling that declared the family’s assets beyond $304,000 as ill-gotten.

“Why, until now, Carranza is bragging? There is still wealth to be returned. What did you do?” Duterte said, adding that the negotiation would not be that easy.

Duterte said he would look into the PCGG’s supposed failure to recover the questionable wealth of the Marcoses.

“I’m looking into PCGG... Just because you recovered a few millions there, you can claim that you are working. You did not do enough. Why did you not see the wealth being offered now by Imee?” he added.

The PCGG was able to recover P170.4 billion of ill-gotten wealth as of last year.

Compromise agreement

Marcos loyalist lawyer Oliver Lozano has proposed the creation of a legal team to study and recommend the implementation of a compromise agreement with the Marcos family on the huge sequestered wealth of the late strongman.

“I respectfully suggest that you negotiate… with the Marcos family on the huge sequestered wealth,” Lozano said in a letter to Duterte, suggesting the government use a huge chunk of Marcos’ wealth as alternative fund for social justice through massive economic development and rehabilitation of the country.

Lozano also suggested the creation of a team of legal experts to study and recommend a compromise not contrary to law, morals, good customs and public safety.

“If we can negotiate with the CPP, MNLF and MILF, there is no reason why we cannot parley with the Marcoses,” he said, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines, the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The root cause of rebellion, terrorism, drugs and corruption is poverty, according to Lozano, and the key solution is to use the huge Marcos wealth by amending and implementing the 75-25 government–Marcos deal.

Lozano said the proposal is in accordance with the handwritten will of Marcos on Aug. 9, 1973 “bequeathing his earthly goods” for the benefit of the Filipino people regardless of political and religious belief. – With Edith Regalado, Perseus Echeminada