Supreme Court confirms confiscation of the Marcos Jewels

The former First Lady in her glory days. (Photo: Bill Aldredge/flickr.com)

The Supreme Court upheld the 2014 Sandiganbayan ruling on the confiscation of Imelda Marcos’ “Malacañang collection” in favor of the government through the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

The notorious 400-piece “Malacañang Collection” is part of the three collections by the former first lady which was left behind by the first family after being ousted out of office and left for Hawaii in 1986. It is the first one to be confiscated by the government among three, and is appraised to be worth more than $150,000.

In a 21-page decision, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno dismissed the petition filed by Mrs. Marcos and daughter Irene Marcos-Araneta claiming that the party was deprived of due process. The SC ruled in favor of the PCGG citing  lack of evidence that the items were lawfully acquired and agreed that the confiscation made on the collection was highly justified.

One of the primary contentions of the High Court is the idea that purchasing the jewelry collection is beyond the means of the Marcoses. The family’s legitimate income from 1968 to 1986 is estimated to be only at $304,372.43.

According to the ruling, properties acquired by any public officer or employee during his stay in office that are estimated to be out of proportion to his salary, are presumed prima facie to have been lawfully acquired.