Palace denies compromise deal with the Marcoses

FILE: Newly-appointed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Malacañang denied allegations that the Duterte administration has made a deal with the Marcoses, saying they only received the draft proposal of the compromise deal on the wealth of the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ family.

“There is no truth to the allegation that the government has reached a compromise agreement with the family of the late President Ferdinand Marcos,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“Atty. Oliver Lozano may have written to Malacañan proposing the creation of a legal team that would study a compromise agreement with the Marcos family. The proposal, however, has not been acted and agreed upon by the Palace,” Roque added.

Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said his office had received the proposal from lawyer Oliver Lozano, proposing to the government a chunk of the Marcoses’ wealth in exchange of the drop of all cases against the late dictator’s family.

Lozano is known to be a Marcos loyalist.

“He wrote our office and attached that draft. He has been submitting a lot of proposals and suggestions. Our office just acknowledges receipt of the same and thanks him for his suggestions,” Panelo said.

“The document was sent to the office by Atty Oliver Lozano. Our office as a matter of courtesy and policy acknowledges receipt of any letter coming from any citizen. No action has been taken on Atty. Lozano’s proposal,” Panelo added.

Lozano reportedly claimed that the said proposal had been forwarded to the Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG).

The proposal includes a supposed House bill granting immunity to the Marcoses and allowing compromise on their sequestered assets.

“The Executive, as we all know, recognizes the separation of powers and independence of Congress. We leave the matter to the House of Representatives to discuss and deliberate,” Roque said.

Earlier, the Marcoses have decided to return their wealth, which has been allegedly amassed from the Philippine government during the presidency of the late Ferdinand Marcos, to the current administration in achieving its big projects.