PCGG: Any effort to hasten recovery of Marcos 'ill-gotten' wealth welcome

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is open to any steps the Duterte administration may take to hasten the recovery of the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family, a report on News To Go said Friday.

PCGG acting chair Reynold Munsayac said although the PCGG supports President Rodrigo Duterte's stand on the issue, it cannot guarantee the withdrawal of civil cases it filed against the Marcos family, which is now with the Sandiganbayan.

The report quoted Munsayac as saying that their decision, if ever, will be based on the provisions of a possible compromise agreement.

"We would always welcome any effort or action," said Munsayac. "The concept of compromise settlement is not new to PCGG. It has been done repeatedly. Because in this manner, you will be able to obtain the ill-gotten wealth faster."

Meanwhile, according to former PCGG Commissioner Ruben Carranza, the government doesn't need to negotiate with the Marcos family regarding the recovery of the alleged ill-gotten wealth.

He said all the government must do is invoke the 2003 Supreme Court ruling that states that the Marcoses legally earned only $300,000 from 1965 to 1986, the years the late President Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General admitted that a direct negotiation with the Marcos family will be a complicated move.

On Tuesday, Duterte said the Marcoses are willing to "open everything" and "probably return" the wealth that will be seen.

But when questioned about how the talks were progressing, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos alternately said on Thursday that the family has yet to discuss the matter in detail and/or that it was still with their lawyers.  —Akari Nakano/KBK/KVD, GMA News