Malacañang supports PCGG move to settle cases vs Marcoses

Malacañang on Monday said it supports a proposal in the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to forge an amicable settlement with the Marcoses on the jewelry collection of former first lady Imelda Marcos. In a press briefing at the Palace, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar defended PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede from his critics on his plan to auction off Mrs. Marcos’ jewelry. “After 25 years since the Marcoses left the country, people tend to forget what the real reason [was] behind the establishment of the PCGG. This is one of the duties of the commission: to liquidate the jewelry and properties acquired from the Marcoses, and bring it back to the country," Olivar said. PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio, however, rejected Abcede’s proposal in a heated debate during a meeting with the commission en banc “We support the pursuit of this process in order for us to move on. We can’t allow these valuable assets to sleep and be frozen inside the Central Bank forever," Olivar said. Olivar said the commission should ensure transparency in the process to avoid suspicions of wrong doing, especially from families of victims of human rights abuses during the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’s regime. Earlier, Abcede asked President-apparent Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to pursue an amicable settlement with the Marcoses in order for the country to “move on." —VS, GMANews.TV