PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is now looking into the “best” approach on how the government would deal with the possible return of portion of questionable wealth of Marcos family.
“We understand that certain parties have indicated to the President that there may be an opportunity for the assets of the Marcos family to be turned over to the Republic,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
“The President is studying how best to proceed in a manner that will advance the nation’s interest and comply with the law,” he added.
Abella’s statement came a day after Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos said her family and the current administration are yet to negotiate on the return of part of their supposed hidden wealth.
“There’s no negotiation yet,” Marcos said. “We trust that the President can end the decades –long case, and our family is still discussing it. But it’s in the hands of our lawyers.”
On Tuesday, the President revealed the proposal of Marcos clan to return “few gold bars” to help his administration because the deficit spending this year is projected to be “big.”
Duterte, however, clarified that the gold bars that would possibly be returned to the government is not the alleged tons of gold bought by the Marcoses from Fort Knox.
Following the Marcoses’ proposal, Duterte said he was mulling to create a three-man team that will oversee the negotiations.
Abella said the President is yet to act on his earlier pronouncement.
“As this matter becomes clearer, we will advise what further action will be taken to finally obtain justice,” he said. (VoxPop Philippines)
