Imelda, Daughters No-Shows In Graft Trial

Former first lady Imelda Marcos and her daughters, Sen. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta, did not show up on the last trial day for one of the wealth forfeiture cases against their family and which remains pending before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

Their failure to appear prompted the court to declare that they have already waived their right to present their defense.

Imelda and her daughters, together with co-defendant Don Ferry, were also not represented by a lawyer during the hearing at the court’s Second Division on Thursday, Sept. 1.

The division had earlier set Thursday’s hearing to give the Marcoses and Ferry their last chance to present counter-evidence after failing to attend the previous proceedings.

Because of their absence, lawyers from the Office of the Solicitor General that represented the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) moved to declare the defendants to have waived their right to present evidence.

Second Division chairperson Oscar Herrera granted the motion, pointing out that the defendants have been duly served with the notice of hearing.

Lawyer Manuel Plaza III, legal counsel of President Marcos, earlier manifested that his client was already resting his case, opting to just adopt the testimonies of witnesses and some documentary evidence presented by his co-defendants – the heirs of the Enriquez and Panlilio families.

Marcos Jr. is a co-defendant in the case, being among the heirs of his late father and namesake.

The Second Division directed all parties to submit their respective memoranda summarizing their positions and arguments within 30 days. The case is deemed submitted for resolution after that period.

“This case has been pending since 1987, so the period to file memoranda is non-extendible 30 days from today, after that, semi-considered submitted for decision,” Herrera said.

In an interview with reporters after attending the hearing, Plaza expressed confidence that the court will judge the case “fairly.”

“I don’t want to pre-empt the decision of the court. We will leave it up to the court, and we’re confident that they will, after our submission of the memorandum, hand a fair decision in this case,” Plaza said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Aside from the Marcoses and Ferry, the other defendants include Modesto Enriquez, Trinidad Enriquez, Rebecco Panlilio, Erlinda Enriquez-Panlilio, Leandro Enriquez, Roman Cruz Jr. and Gregorio Castillo.

Filed by the PCGG in 1987, the civil forfeiture case seeks to recover in favor of the government P581.304 million worth of real properties allegedly illegally acquired during the martial law regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Docketed as Civil Case 0014, the case stemmed from the supposed acquisition of several corporations and properties by the Panlilios and Enriquezes, the alleged business associates and dummies of Marcos Sr. and wife, Imelda.

Based on the information of the case, the Panlilio and Enriquez families acted as dummies of the Marcos couple in acquiring ownership or control of Ternate Development Corp., Monte Sol Development Corp., Olas del Mar Development Corp., Fantasia Filipina Resort Inc., Sulo Dobbs Inc., Philippine Village Inc., Puerto Azul Beach and Country Club Inc., Silahis International Hotel Inc. and Hotel Properties Inc.