Wealth forfeiture case vs 20 Marcos 'dummies' junked

The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the wealth forfeiture case against several alleged cronies of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his widow, former first lady Imelda Marcos, for lack of proof that they acted as dummies of the former first couple in a corporation allegedly illegally acquired during martial law.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

"The Court finds it unfortunate that despite the length of time that this case has been pending, and the vast resources of the government to pursue cases of ill-gotten wealth, the plaintiff miserably failed to prove the allegations in the complaint," the anti-graft court's Fourth Division said in its 38-page decision promulgated on July 29.

The court specifically dismissed the complaint with prayer for forfeiture or reconveyance filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) against the individual minor shareholders of Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (ETPI), a corporation allegedly illegally acquired by the Marcoses and their supposed cronies during martial law.

"Absent evidence proving that the defendants' ETPI shares of stocks originated from the government and that they were registered in their names to conceal their true ownership, the Court cannot order their reconveyance, restitution or forfeiture in favor of the plaintiff (Republic of the Philippines),” the decision, penned by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna, read.