Republic Vs Sandiganbayan, GR No. 152154

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G.R. No.

152154 | July 15, 2003


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, PETITIONER, VS. HONORABLE
SANDIGANBAYAN, ET AL., RESPONDENTS.
JUSTICE CORONA

FACTS:
This case revolves around the forfeiture of approximately US$658 million held in
escrow in the Philippine National Bank (PNB), which was deemed to be ill-gotten
wealth of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. The petitioner, Republic of the
Philippines, represented by the Presidential Commission on Good Government
(PCGG) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), filed a petition for forfeiture
on December 17, 1991, before the Sandiganbayan, docketed as Civil Case No.
0141. The respondents in the case include the Estate/Heirs of Ferdinand E.
Marcos, represented by Imelda R. Marcos, Maria Imelda Imee Marcos-Manotoc,
Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and Irene Marcos-Araneta. The funds in question were
previously held in various Swiss bank accounts under different foundations.
Initially, the Sandiganbayan granted the Republic's motion for summary
judgment on September 19, 2000, declaring the Swiss deposits as ill-gotten
wealth. However, on January 31, 2002, the Sandiganbayan reversed its decision,
prompting the Republic to file a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules
of Court to reinstate the earlier decision.

ISSUE:
Whether the respondents raised any genuine issue of fact that would justify or
negate summary judgment. And whether the petitioner Republic was able to
prove its case for forfeiture in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 of RA 1379.

RULING:
The Supreme Court ruled that the respondents failed to raise genuine issues of
fact, justifying the summary judgment. The court granted the Republic's motion
for summary judgment, ordering the forfeiture of Swiss deposits in favor of the
Republic of the Philippines. The respondents' defenses were deemed inadequate
and evasive, and the court found their denials sham and fictitious. The
respondents admitted their ownership of the Swiss deposits in various
documents, including the General and Supplemental Agreements, Mrs. Marcos'
Manifestation, and the Undertaking to pay human rights victims. The Swiss
deposits were manifestly out of proportion to the known lawful income of the
Marcoses, establishing a prima facie presumption of ill-gotten wealth under RA
1379. The court also ruled that the non-joinder of foreign foundations was not
indispensable and did not affect the validity of the judgment. The court
emphasized the need for a speedy resolution of cases involving ill-gotten wealth
due to the immense public interest and historical significance of the case.

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