Bongbong denies talks with PCGG

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR , Philippines  - Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. denied reports that his family has reopened talks with the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) over P140-billion ill-gotten wealth.

Marcos denied reports from PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede that there are new negotiations for the settlement of the ill-gotten cases pending against the Marcos family.

“We are not talking to the PCGG. We are not negotiating, no deal, no talks, they (PCGG) are only lying and part of politics. There is no deal, there have been no negotiations, and there are no talks. I think that the PCGG itself will officially come up with a statement,” Marcos said.

Marcos, however, confirmed that his brother-in-law, Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta, husband of his youngest sister Irene, recently met Abcede but it was purely a “social meeting.”

“Nakipagkita lang sya wala silang pinag-usapan sa mga kaso kundi sosyalan lang. Walang deal, walang pinirmahan, walang kahit na ano. Ito ay maliwanag na pamumulitika lang,” Marcos said.

Marcos branded the reports as politically motivated and explained that the cases against the Marcoses are now in the courts and settlements at this time are impossible.

Asked if the Marcoses are willing to negotiate with a new administration, Marcos said it is not impossible.

“Maybe if the next administration will be sympathetic, maybe there is something to talk about. But right now, all the cases are out of our hands. Everything is in the courts, you cannot really negotiate. You will just have to wait for the outcome,” Marcos said during the NP campaign here last Sunday night.

Noynoy hits midnight deals of GMA

Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III assured the people that all midnight deals of the Arroyo government would be reviewed to know if they should be rescinded including the alleged PCGG deal regarding the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family.

The PCGG announced that it has started a negotiation to make a deal to recover what remains of the Marcos assets.

The PCGG said the agency is working out what it described as a “universal settlement” with the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Commissioner Abcede said he met Araneta last Tuesday to talk about the recovery of about P140 billion in Marcos assets tied up in 520 civil cases in the local courts.

“I think the minimum is we review all of that (midnight deals). As you know, I have already been pointing out that (the Arroyo government) has been entering (into) so many deals that further impairs government to be able to fund projects already in the budget,” Aquino said.

NP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. had said he is open to the review of the pending cases filed against the Marcoses once he is elected president.

Villar, however, refused to speculate on the reported negotiations between the PCCG and a member of the Marcos family.    – With Aurea Calica