PCGG admits spending $20 M for lawyers

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) admitted yesterday that it has paid $20 million — roughly P1 billion — to foreign lawyers, but its officials said the commission is not wasting taxpayers’ money.

PCGG director for legal affairs Jay Miguel said there are three foreign lawyers in the commission’s active list.

"These are not so-so lawyers. The Philippine government, if we hire lawyers, want to make sure they are good. The price is reasonable because they are competent," he said.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile earlier asked PCGG chairman Camilo Sabio to explain the commission’s continued "waste of taxpayers’ money" on lawyers whose roles in the PCGG’s mission are not even clear.

"For the record, the Sabio commission has only hired one foreign lawyer to assist us in our Singapore Court (trial)," Miguel said.

Sabio had hired the Harry Elias Partnership of Singapore to handle the recovery of $27 million of Marcos’ wealth retained at the West Landes Bank of Singapore.

Miguel said that if the amount of $20 million is based on documents the PCGG submitted to the Senate upon the chamber’s request, then the amount quoted is true.

He said the $20 million represents the fees charged by foreign lawyers who assisted the PCGG since it was created in 1986 for the purpose of recovering the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ alleged ill-gotten wealth stashed in various banks and foundations worldwide.

One of two other foreign lawyers maintained by the PCGG is Sergio Salvioni of Switzerland, hired by the first PCGG chairman, Jovito Salonga. Salvioni is handling the recovery of alleged ill-gotten wealth in Liechtenstein as well as from the Fe Roa Jimenez and Herminio Disini accounts.

The late PCGG chairwoman Haydee Yorac hired lawyer Stephen Bomsi.

Miguel said the lawyers charge one percent of the amount of ill-gotten wealth recovered.