Two senators, who were former close aides of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, doubted yesterday the existence of a $65-billion gold hoard of the Marcoses.
President Estrada also laughed off the tale of Renato Vizcarra, the mayor of Ramon, Isabela, who told senators that a gold broker estimated the Marcos gold deposits to reach such an amount.
"These claims have been going on since the past two administrations... but we have not seen any of these gold bars. I won't pay too much attention to these stories unless they give us evidence," the President said.
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a former defense minister of the late strongman, said he wants to see pieces of evidence that would prove the existence of the gold hoard.
"While we are getting used to these billions of dollars of gold in our newspapers, we have yet to see an ounce of gold in reality," he said.
Sen. Francisco Tatad, a former information secretary of Marcos, said Vizcarra's testimony about a gold broker named Gregorio Cadhit is an incredible story "straight from Ali Baba."
In another development, former First Lady Imelda Marcos refused to confirm or deny reports that she owns huge amounts of shares in San Miguel Corp., Manila Electric Co., Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Eastern Telecommunications Inc., Fortune Tobacco Inc., Asia Brewery and Philippine Airlines.
In a statement, she said she "regrets" to confirm or deny the accuracy of this report, which had been attributed to Tatad, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations.
"I intend to make a statement on this matter at the appropriate time," she said.
Vizcarra told senators that Cadhit had sold some of the Marcos gold, and that proceeds of the sale go to the bank accounts of businessman Gregorio "Greggy" Araneta III and his wife Irene Marcos.
Tatad said Vizcarra's testimony must not be given attention by the Senate.
"If there is such a thing as Marcos gold, we should all go for it. But we could end up talking to the elves in the dead of the night if we entertained anyone with a tale from the Arabian Nights," Tatad said.
For his part, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Vizcarra's story about Cadhit "is meaningless."
"I don't know why the Senate is giving these guys credence," he said as he also denied reports that Vizcarra is a relative of the Marcoses.
On the other hand, Ramon town vice mayor Arsenio Quelit said everybody in his town knows Cadhit's connection and role with the Aranetas.
Quelit added that Vizcarra's mother, Carmen, is the second cousin of the late dictator.
Tatad said Vizcarra's estimates about the Marcoses' $65-billion gold deposit is mind-boggling.
"If calculated, this means that the Marcoses have 6.1 tons of gold -- an amount which is larger than what the 15 central banks in Europe have agreed to sell over the next five years," he said.
"Where on earth could Marcos have gotten all these?" the senator asked.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration issued a hold departure order against Cadhit, who is wanted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to corroborate Vizcarra's testimony.
Acting Immigration Commissioner Alan Roullo Yap alerted all immigration agents at the country's six international airports to prevent Cadhit from leaving the country.
It was learned that Cadhit was prevented from leaving the country on Oct. 9, 1996 for violating the bouncing check law.
In other developments yesterday, American lawyer Robert Swift said the Marcoses have only until Feb. 14 to decide whether or not they would pay human rights victims the amount of $150 million as compensation.
If not, he said the US District Court of Hawaii will revert its original decision for the Marcoses to indemnify the victims some $2 billion.
"The court will be forced to order the implementation of its original decision ordering the Marcoses to pay $2 billion for the 9,500 claimants of human rights victims during martial law," said Swift.
Last year, the Marcoses have entered into an out-of-court settlement with human rights victims, agreeing to pay them $150 million.
However, the agreement cannot be implemented because the Sandiganbayan had ruled that such an amount may not come from the $630-million escrow account.
Former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez said former First Lady Imelda Marcos should then use her family's money in paying the human rights victims.
"The compromise agreement cannot and should not touch the escrow account and any portion thereof... The Marcoses, as ruled by the Sandiganbayan, should pay their direct, primary and personal liabilities to the human rights claimants by sourcing it from their own funds," Chavez said in a statement. -- With Marichu Villanueva, Charlie Lagasca, Rey Arquiza