Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ anti-graft and corruption court, just dismissed another case involving former President Ferdinand Marcos and his family’s alleged “ill-gotten” wealth. The decision was penned by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alex Quirol, the court’s fourth division, to throw out a Php 200-billion forfeiture case against the family.
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This includes his widow Imelda Marcos, his children, Senator Imee Marcos, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Irene Marcos and Constante Rubio, a close associate of the former president, for lack of sufficient evidence.
Sandiganbayan 4th Division dismisses Civil Case No. 0002 vs. former President Ferdinand Marcos, wife Imelda and children Irene and Ferdinand Jr. involving alleged P200 billion ill-gotten wealth. | via @adrianayalin pic.twitter.com/5TvWQ5ARjv
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 16, 2019
According to the 42-page ruling officially proclaimed today by Sandiganbayan, “The court acknowledges the atrocities committed during Martial Law under the Marcos regime and the ‘plunder’ committed on the country’s resources. However, absent sufficient evidence that may lead to the conclusion that the subject properties were indeed ill-gotten by the Marcoses, the court cannot simply order the return of the same to the national treasury.”
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Photocopies of affidavits from witnesses have also been reportedly dismissed, as well as the counterclaims of the Marcos family and Rubio for their failure to provide enough evidence.
This is the fourth case this year involving the Marcos family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth to be dismissed due to lack of evidence by the Sandiganbayan.
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