SEVEN pieces of prime real estate worth P65.8 billion sequestered by the government allegedly sourced from ill-gotten wealth will be put up for public bidding in March this year following the approval for their sale by the Privatization Council, the Presidential Commission on Good Government said on Monday.
Three lots forfeited from former National Bureau of Investigation Director Jolly Bugarin, including a 2,335 sq. m. land located in Tagaytay City and parcels of land in Puerto Galera by virtue of Supreme Court decision dated 6 August 2012.
Bugarin, during his incumbency as a director under the Marcos administration from 1967 to 1986, was able to acquire the real estate property.
Also approved for sale by the Finance Department-led Privatization Council are the Benedicto-owned 5,161 sq. m land in Legazpi City, Albay and another 5,952 sq. m land in Naga City, Camarines Sur that were surrendered to the PCGG by virtue of the Compromise Agreement between PCGG and former Ambassador Roberto S. Benedicto.
Benedicto served as the Philippines’ ambassador to Japan for six years in the early 1970s.
Another plot of land will be sold in Caloocan City, ceded to the Republic/PCGG by virtue of a 1994 Compromise Agreement between PCGG and spouses Alejo and Teresita Ganut. Ganut served as the aide and valet of former President Marcos.
Last for sale is the 1,146 sq. m Wigwam Compound property in Baguio that was ceded to the government by Jose Y. Campos in March 1986.
Campos also voluntarily surrendered the 18-hectare Payanig sa Pasig property whose ownership rights are still being tried at courts.
PCGG Chairman Richard T. Amurao said that he “welcomes the approval granted by the Privatization Council on the said properties and he expressed confidence that the PCGG will receive competitive bid offers during the auction sale.”
“We will continue to work even harder in carrying out one of our major tasks, which is to privatize surrendered and recovered ill-gotten assets of the Marcoses and his cronies with proceeds going to its true owners, the Filipino people. PCGG shall remain assiduous in our mandate as long as there are Marcos ill-gotten wealth yet to be recovered,” Amurao said.
Amurao said that the commission is targeting to generate P383 million this year for turnover to the Bureau of the Treasury.