NEGOTIATIONS on the possible return of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family could only proceed if lawmakers give their "authority and guidelines" on the conduct of talks, Malacañang said Friday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella maintained that a piece of legislation is vital to make sure that the negotiations between the government and Marcoses observe the law and promote national welfare.
"This measure will ensure that negotiations abide by the law and advance the national interest and the demands of justice," Abella said in a press conference.
"One major issue our esteemed lawmakers shall have to deliberate is whether it is better to continue current efforts to regain what rightfully belongs to the government now going on for 31 years or to negotiate a settlement that would obtain billions of pesos for the nation's use now," he added.
Duterte revealed on August 29 that the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is willing to return "a few gold bars" in a bid to help the government in covering possible "big" budget deficit this year.
The Marcos family has been accused of stashing around $10 billion in hidden banks accounts overseas.
The Presidential Commission on Good Government, which was tasked to recover the Marcoses ill-gotten wealth, has so far recovered P170 billion from the influential family.
On September 5, President Rodrigo Duterte floated the idea of granting immunity from criminal prosecution to the Marcos family, in exchange for the return of part of their hidden wealth.
The President stressed that it could only be done if Congress gives a green light.
Opposition lawmakers, however, turned down Duterte's proposal to grant the Marcoses immunity from criminal prosecution.
Abella appealed to Congress to take into consideration the crafting of a measure that would authorize negotiations and set parameters on the possible deal for the return of part of Marcos' wealth.
"It is good that these concerns are being raised, that this is precisely why the President made public the overtures of the Marcos family and has asked Congress to deliberate the matter and to come up with legislation giving authority and guidelines," Abella said.
"The President has apparently left the decision to our legislators and the government will proceed only after Congress enacts a measure authorizing negotiations and setting parameters on the conduct of talks in the eventual disposition of recovered assets," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)
