Manila Philippines: State prosecutors asked a court to proceed with civil cases against ousted ruler Ferdinand Marcos, his wife and associates for the recovery of alleged ill-gotten wealth and payment of damages worth at least dollars 89 billion on Feb 8.

In the first conviction in absentia of a Marcos associate in a civil case, the anticorruption court, or Sandiganbayan, Wednesday found Fernando Timbol, a former photo grapher for Marcos’s mother, guilty of having illegally acquired 11 cars worth dollars 121,403.

The court declared the vehicles forfeited, saying Timbol had taken undue advantage of his relationship with Marcos to enrich himself unlawfully. The whereabouts of Timbol was not established during the trial but he was represented by a lawyer.

35 civil cases.

Solicitor General Francisco Chavea filed a motion with the Sandiganbayan to declare Marcos and his wife Imelda in default so it could proceed with the trial of 35 civil case against the Marcoses as well as’419 relatives and business associates.

Each of the cases, filed in July and August 1987, asks the court to direct the defendants to return ill-gotten wealth to be proven during the trial. Each case seeks moral and exemplary damaged of dollars 2.55 billion and litigation costs left for the court to decide. The total worth of specified damages for the 35 cased is dollars 89billion. Trial of the civil cased has not begun because the Marcosed the principal accused, have failed to answer a summons left with the ousted ruler’s aide in Honolulu last Noy. 10 by Philippine Consul General Tomas Gomez.

No Criminal Case yet

The Marcoses had until Jan 9 to answer the summons and Chavez on Feb 8, requested the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the trial and hear the state’s evidence despite an absence of the Marcoses. Trial in absentia is allowed in civil cases. No criminal cases have yet been filed against the Marcoses in Manila because it would require their presence during arraignment

President Corazon Aquino has refused requests by the ailing Marcos to return, citing considerations of national interest.

Marcos and his wife have been indicted on federal racketeering charges accusing them of defrauding U.S. banks of dollars 165 million by refinancing properties in New York city purchased with dollars 103 million allegedly plundered from the Philippine treasure.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 17, 1989