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Court gives back plush mansion to Imelda
Source: Agencies |
December 15, 2010, Wednesday
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FORMER Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos said yesterday that she will have a merry Christmas thanks to a court ordering the return of one of the sprawling mansions the government seized after her husband was deposed.
The Supreme Court ruled late on Monday that the government agency created to recover billions of dollars allegedly looted by former President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife used a defective order to seize the beachfront, 42-hectare estate on Leyte Island.
The ruling came 24 years after a nonviolent "people power" uprising ousted Marcos and the government sequestered most of their property. Imelda Marcos and her children are seeking the return of the assets.
Officials allege the sprawling property was acquired through Marcos' looting of public money while in power. Imelda Marcos has long denied the allegation, saying the mansion is a family property where her father was born.
An aide said she broke into tears upon learning of the court decision.
"This is indeed a very happy Christmas, and I will try to go to Leyte before this holiday season is over," the former first lady said.
Imelda Marcos will forever be remembered for the dazzling jewels and 1,220 pairs of shoes she left behind in the presidential palace. They also are among the assets seized by the government.
Ill-gotten wealth
Marcos and his associates allegedly amassed up to US$10 billion in ill-gotten wealth during his 21 years in power. The Presidential Commission on Good Government has so far identified around US$6.5 billion and recovered cash and assets totaling around US$1.97 billion.
Marcos, who declared martial law in 1972, ruled with an iron fist, imprisoning dissidents and stifling freedoms. He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 without being tried.
Imelda Marcos, 81, returned to the Philippines in 1991, followed later by her children, and re-entered politics. She was elected in May to the House of Representatives, her second time in Congress. Her son Bongbong was elected a senator and daughter Imee a provincial governor. Despite some 900 cases against her, she has emerged relatively unscathed and has never served prison time.
The Supreme Court ruled late on Monday that the government agency created to recover billions of dollars allegedly looted by former President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife used a defective order to seize the beachfront, 42-hectare estate on Leyte Island.
The ruling came 24 years after a nonviolent "people power" uprising ousted Marcos and the government sequestered most of their property. Imelda Marcos and her children are seeking the return of the assets.
Officials allege the sprawling property was acquired through Marcos' looting of public money while in power. Imelda Marcos has long denied the allegation, saying the mansion is a family property where her father was born.
An aide said she broke into tears upon learning of the court decision.
"This is indeed a very happy Christmas, and I will try to go to Leyte before this holiday season is over," the former first lady said.
Imelda Marcos will forever be remembered for the dazzling jewels and 1,220 pairs of shoes she left behind in the presidential palace. They also are among the assets seized by the government.
Ill-gotten wealth
Marcos and his associates allegedly amassed up to US$10 billion in ill-gotten wealth during his 21 years in power. The Presidential Commission on Good Government has so far identified around US$6.5 billion and recovered cash and assets totaling around US$1.97 billion.
Marcos, who declared martial law in 1972, ruled with an iron fist, imprisoning dissidents and stifling freedoms. He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 without being tried.
Imelda Marcos, 81, returned to the Philippines in 1991, followed later by her children, and re-entered politics. She was elected in May to the House of Representatives, her second time in Congress. Her son Bongbong was elected a senator and daughter Imee a provincial governor. Despite some 900 cases against her, she has emerged relatively unscathed and has never served prison time.
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