Sandigan junks govt claim over Marcos' Canlubang Mansion with finality

(Updated 7:12 p.m.) The Sandiganbayan has junked with finality the government’s claim over the so-called Canlubang Mansion that was seized from the heirs of the late President Ferdinand Marcos for allegedly being part of their family's ill-gotten wealth. In a nine-page resolution promulgated last Dec. 1, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division affirmed its Jan. 11, 2010 ruling ordering the Presidential Commission on Good Government to return ownership of the 25-hectare land in Cabuyao, Laguna, and the mansion erected on it to the three Marcos children who were registered as owners. The Canlubang property was one of the two mansions ordered returned to the Marcos family this month by the courts. The Supreme Court ruled late Monday that the PCGG failed to prove that a beachfront, 42-hectare estate on Leyte Island was acquired improperly. "This is indeed a very happy Christmas, and I will try to go to Leyte before this holiday season is over," said former First Lady Imelda Marcos. Bongbong's petition Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. petitioned the court for the return of the Canlubang property on the ground that it was never included in any of the 35 forfeiture cases filed by the PCGG against them in 1987. The property was seized in 1987 or a year after the Marcos dictatorship was toppled by the historic People Power uprising. It was turned over to the Department of Tourism by the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino in 1988 for “administration and maintenance." Government lawyers insisted the property is covered by Civil Case No. 0002 even if it was not specifically listed in the roster of Marcos assets attached to the complaint. They said the non-inclusion was remedied by the qualifying phrase "include but not limited to." The argument, however, was overruled by the anti-graft court. "The above averment of the plaintiff is devoid of logic. As correctly observed by defendant Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., if plaintiff’s interpretation were to be allowed, then plaintiff may insist that the subject property is also directly involved in Civil Cases Nos. 0001 to 0035, the other cases involving the Marcoses. Such, of course, will result in absurdity," the Sandiganbayan pointed out. Bongbong, along with sisters Imee Marcos, the incumbent governor of Ilocos Norte, and Irene Marcos-Araneta, are the registered owners of the said property. — with AP/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV