"It’s not true that this is still stolen money, that it is ill- gotten, that it’s taken from corruption or taken from the people, which is the most terrible thing, and it is not," Imelda Marcos said in the interview broadcast yesterday on the Sky News channel.
Marcos last month filed a petition with a Manila regional trial court asking for a temporary restraining order on government plans to auction the jewelry that was seized when her husband was overthrown during the EDSA people power I revolt in February 1986.
The government says the jewels were bought with money embezzled from the national treasury.
In her Manila mansion, surrounded by mementos of the years in power and a new shoe collection, Marcos told Sky News she would fight the plan in the courts and claimed to have the Philippine people behind her.
"Practically everyone in the streets says these are beautiful things and says why do they want to take them away for money. Filipinos will take beauty before money," she said. "We are not a materialistic people."
In a similar interview with Agence France Presse last month, Marcos said, "some of this jewelry are heirlooms of my family. I have not been convicted for corruption anywhere."
Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Commissioner Ricardo Abcede, who is in charge of the sale, told Sky News that "there is now worldwide interest in the jewelry collection" and the government should seize the chance to earn more from the collection.
The gems, including a 37.5-carat diamond, were seized by the government shortly after the bloodless coup in 1986 that ended their extravagant term in power.
However, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said the pieces of jewelry now being eyed for auction by the PCGG are but "leftovers."
Enrile, who was defense minister during the Marcos regime, claimed that the more beautiful and expensive pieces of jewelry were stolen by personalities "often seen in the papers."
In a press conference yesterday, Abcede said Enrile must support his claim that the jewelry collection left behind by the Marcoses in Malacañang was looted and should lead an inquiry into the matter.
"We would like to assure the public that we will look into this. For whatever its worth, we will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) or other concerned agencies," Abcede said.
The PCGG commissioner, however, is questioning why is it only now that Enrile is making a statement about this.
"If this really happened, they should have done something about it. He was head of the Department of National Defense then and one of the generals in EDSA (revolt)," Abcede said.
The looting of the Marcos jewelry allegedly took place in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City at the house of Angelita Reyes, daughter of business tycoon Anselmo Trinidad and sister of former transportation secretary Josie Lichauco.
Abcede said that government officials who allowed this crime to be committed can be charged in court.
He stressed, though, that Enrile’s revelation will not affect the planned auction of the Marcos jewelry. — With Sandy Araneta