Lucio Tan’s brother loses P51-B ill-gotten wealth case

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday rendered a “judgment in default" against businessman Lucio Tan's brother — Mariano Tanenglian — for failing to present evidence in his defense in a forfeiture case that had dragged for 23 years. Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said Thursday Tanenglian is “deemed to have waived his right" to present any evidence in his own defense in the P51-billion ill-gotten wealth case. The division chair, Associate Justice Roland Jurado, refused to allow Tanenglian's request for another extension to submit his defense evidence. Jurado explained that the defendant had been repeatedly reminded that he cannot stall the proceedings since other defendants in the case were already done presenting their evidence. Tanenglian had asked the court to defer his presentation of evidence while waiting for the Presidential Commission on Good Government's decision on his petition for immunity in exchange for testifying against Tan. The government is seeking to prove that Tan's assets form part of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family, the heirs of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos and Tan were supposedly partners in business ventures that Tan successfully grew into multibillion-peso enterprises today. Tan continues to deny the allegation, while the Marcoses are trying to get what they claim is their share of the enterprises. The government, on the other hand, wants to seize all the assets. Tanenglian is also a defendant in the case against his brother but after they had a falling-out he offered to turn state's evidence in exchange for immunity. Estelito Mendoza, Tan's counsel, said that it would be unfair for Tan and the rest of the defendants if more delays are allowed in the proceedings. Apart from Tan and Tanenglian, also named defendants were the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos. – JE/MRT/VS, GMANews.TV