The Palace on Tuesday distanced itself from the Sandiganbayan’s decision to junk the case against the Marcoses over P200-billion of “ill-gotten wealth.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the court would decide on the basis of evidence without interference from any entity.
“We have repeatedly said we never interfere with the decision of the court. The court will always decide on the basis of evidence,” Panelo told reporters in Malacañang.
“Any government is concerned with the case filed by it against perceived transgressors of the law but it’s the court that always decides whether you have a case against the accused,” Panelo said.
In a 58-page decision, Sandiganbayan fourth Division junked the case, saying the documentary evidence for the forfeiture case offered by the plaintiff were mere photocopies, most of which were barely readable.
“Thus, even if the Court were to defy the best evidence rule, it still could not fully ascertain the contents of these documents and make an intelligent evaluation therefrom,” the Sandiganbayan said in its ruling.
“[A]bsent sufficient evidence that may lead to the conclusion that the subject properties were indeed ill-gotten by the Marcoses, the Court cannot simply order the return of the same to the national treasury,” the decision read.
This case was the latest in the consecutive losses of the Presidential Commission on Good Governance against the Marcoses due to insufficiency of evidence.
Last Oct. 23, the same Sandiganbayan division junked a P267.37 million forfeiture case against the Marcos family and spouses Ignacio and Fe Gimenez.
On Sept. 25, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division dismissed the P1-billion forfeiture case against the Marcoses and their alleged cronies: Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., Bienvenido Tantoco Jr., Gliceria Tantoco, Maria Lourdes Tantoco-Pineda and Dominador Santiago.