Kin of golden Buddha treasure hunter wants share of Marcos wealth

BAGUIO

CITY – The heirs of Rogelio Roxas, the treasure hunter who discovered the golden Buddha in 1971, is asking for a share of the wealth that the Marcos family plans to return to government.

In an interview Tuesday, the Roxas family, led by Rogelio's son Henry, said they would like to get a share of the Marcos wealth if plans to return a part of it to government would push t hr ough.

“We are appealing, if it is true that the Marcoses will return to the government their ill gotten wealth, we would be given a part of it for our sufferings and that of my father’s companions who found the treasure that was taken from us,” Henry said.

He said this is to remunerate the family for the losses they sustained following the seizure of the golden Buddha and the gold bars that former strongman Ferdinand Marcos allegedly ordered taken from their father. The elder Roxas, he said, was also ordered arrested following the taking of the treasure from them.

He said the controversial golden Buddha, weighing about 1,000 kilograms, together with several gold bars were dug and found by Rogelio Roxas and his companions in 1971 where the Baguio General Hospital now stands. It was believed to be part of the Yamashita treasure which was left by the Japanese after World War II.

The younger Roxas said they have obtained a decision in their favor in Hawaii, after they filed a case following the Marcos exile there in 1986. The decision, he said, was never executed but with the affirmative decision, they believe that they are entitled to a share of whatever the Marcos family will return to the gover nment .

Councilor Edgar Avila, who handled the case of the Roxas family at the United States, said the original case was filed in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“The Honolulu court awarded damages of USD9 million in favor of the heirs of Roxas, but it was not given by the Marcoses to them,” he said. The family appealed the case at the State of California which is still pending.

Prior to filing the case in the United States, the Roxas family filed a case before a local court. The golden Buddha was returned at that time and is still in the custody of the Regional Trial Court in Baguio City. The Roxas family, however, said the golden Buddha is not the real one taken from their family, and wants government to recognize their right to the gold bars taken from them.