InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that his mother, Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos, wants to take back her jewelry confiscated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) which the government is putting up for public display and may soon put up for public auction.
In an interview with reporters, Marcos said some pieces of jewelry were missing on a PCGG list shown to his mother, including gifts from the former strongman for her birthdays and Christmas.
“Maraming nawawala. Kasi noong ibinigay sa amin ang listahan - hiningi namin ang listahan sa PCGG - nakita ng mother ko, marami ng kulang dito (A lot are missing. When we were given the list - we asked for the list from the PCGG - my mother saw that a lot were missing),” Marcos said.
One gift for her birthday was among those on the list. “But all the gifts to her for Christmas, those are the things that are missing,” he added.
Imelda’s engagement ring is with her, the son said.
Marcos said a public display of the jewelry has been suggested in dinner conversations during his father's time.
“Noon pa, noon pa. Pero nanghihinayang ang aking ina kasi hindi na kumpleto ang koleksiyon, marami ng nawala. Pero kung ano ang natira, sa aking palagay eh pinakamagandnag gawin yan (The public display has been a plan from way back. But my mother is disappointed because the collection is incomplete, a lot are missing. But whatever is left, a public display is the best). As I said, noon pa, balak nang gawin yan. Naalala ko (even before, that was the plan. I remember) when we are talking before, na we all agreed to put the jewelry on public display for the people to see,” he said.
Public auction
On the planned auction, Marcos said he does not know the legal status of his mother’s jewelry, but he will consult family lawyers on the matter.
“That is a whole other issue, we will see. I don’t know the legal implications on that, including the legal status of the jewelry. But as far the public display is concern, yan ang dapat gawin dyan, that is the original plan of my mother,” he said.
Marcos reiterated that PCCG promised to return Imelda’s jewelry, but did not deliver on those promises. He did not say which administration made the promise.
“Ano ba magagawa namin? Sinabi nila ibabalik, pero hindi naman ibinalik. So hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin noon, kung (What can we do? They said the jewelry will be returned, but they were not. So I don’t know what this means, if) these jewelry have been decided, transfer of ownership, or if it is still in limbo. Hindi ko na sinusundan ang kaso (I’ve not followed the case),” he said.
The younger Marcos wants those jewelry with sentimental value to his mother returned to her.
“Hindi ako marunong sa alahas kaya hindi ko matukoy kung ano ang nawawala (I don’t know anything about jewelry, that’s why I cannot determine which ones are missing) But I would remember, kapag makikita ko (when I see them). But there is no sentimental value to me. I know it is valuable, it is beautiful, I can appreciate it. But iyong may (those with) sentimental value, kayang-kaya niyang ilista iyon (she can list them down), and she wants to take them back. Siyempre, binili din nya iyon (Of course, she did buy them),” Marcos said.
