Bongbong finally testifies vs Tan today

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will finally have his say when he testifies today before the Sandiganbayan against business tycoon Lucio Tan on allegations that the Marcos family owned about 60 percent of the taipan’s assets.

Rep. Marcos is scheduled to appear before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division at around 1:30 p.m.

Last Aug. 1, Marcos expressed willingness to testify as he sat on the witness stand for more than an hour, to prove that 60 percent of Tan’s assets belong to their family as they were merely entrusted by his late father to the Chinese tycoon.

However, the much-anticipated testimony did not materilize as former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza, Tan’s legal counsel, and other lawyers of alleged cronies tried to block Marcos from giving his testimony before the Sandiganbayan.

Mendoza was solicitor general, and later minister of justice, during the presidency of Bongbong’s father, Ferdinand Sr.

“I was ready to testify. I would be ready to testify during the next hearing,” Rep. Marcos said.

The Sandiganbayan has ruled that Marcos would be allowed to testify before the court during the next scheduled hearing, which is today, Aug. 21.

Mendoza objected to Marcos’ being offered as a “hostile witness” by Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) lawyer Catalino Generillo since the congressman “is one of the defendants in the Marcos estate.” 

When Associate Justice Cristina Cortes-Estrada, chairman of the Fifth Division, had finally ruled that Marcos could testify before the anti-graft court, no more time was left for the court to hear his testimony.

The Sandiganbayan had scheduled the hearing on Aug. 20, but it was moved to today since Malacañang declared Monday as a “non-working holiday” in commemoration of the death anniversary of  Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

Meanwhile, Generillo and Marcos denied that there was any alignment or compromise agreement between the Marcoses and the government in exchange for the congressman’s testimony.

“I should know because I am part of the government team handling this case,” said Generillo.

Generillo said Marcos agreed to testify only recently because the government and the Ilocos lawmaker had to come up with complete papers and documentation.

He said Marcos would testify that the former president and Tan were business associates.

He also added that Marcos would testify that it was through the intercession and help of the former president that Tan acquired interests in his companies. He stressed Marcos will testify that the former president had interests in these companies.

Bongbong will also identify documents proving the Marcos business interests listed in Tan’s companies, he said.

However, Mendoza was not concerned about Rep. Marcos’ testimony, expressing confidence that he would not give any statement that would prejudice the interests of the late president and the Marcos estate.