Marcos given more time to prepare for forfeiture case

More time and a new chance have been given to President Marcos to defend himself in the civil forfeiture case being tried by the Sandiganbayan since 1987 over his family’s supposed ill-gotten wealth.

Marcos’ legal counsel, Manuel Plaza, said that the anti-graft court’s Second Division granted yesterday their motion to defer the start of the presentation of evidence to give them additional time to prepare for their defense.

Plaza pointed out that it was just about two weeks ago when their camp was notified of the Sandiganbayan’s resolution giving Marcos, his mother former first lady Imelda Marcos, and sisters Sen. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta, another chance to present their counterevidence.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), represented in court by the Office of the Solicitor General, earlier moved to declare that the Marcoses “have waived their right to present evidence” on account of their failure to attend the hearing on Aug. 13, 2019, the date originally set for initial presentation of their defense.

In its resolution last June 22, the Sandiganbayan denied the PCGG’s motion, pointing out that the court cannot be too rigid with rules and technicalities if the issues involved “are impressed with serious national and public interest.”

At yesterday’s hearing, Plaza asked for a period of 60 days to prepare for the case but Second Division chairman Oscar Herrera said the period was too long.

“We assume you studied it already. Because your entry [in this case] was as early as 2020,” Herrera said.

Plaza replied that the records he had in his office “seem to be incomplete.”

“What we know, so far, are bits and pieces furnished to us by the court or the parties,” he added.