Customs to auction Roumeliotes jewelry

MANILA, Philippines - Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said yesterday that the jewelry seized from a Greek national two weeks after the EDSA People Power revolt in March 1986 will be auctioned under the incoming administration.

Morales clarified that the objections to the selling of the Marcos jewelry, which is under the custody of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), should not affect the plan to dispose of the jewelry collection owned by Greek national Demetrius Roumeliotes as it is not part of the Marcos gems.

The items were intercepted at the airport by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as it was reportedly about to be smuggled out of the country after the Marcoses fled to Hawaii.

Given the limited time, however, the BOC said it would not be able to accomplish the sale during the remaining days of the Arroyo administration.

 “Considering the lack of material time, we might be able to conduct the appraisal of the jewelry now or before June 30, but the auction might happen during the term of the new president,” Morales said.

He added though that the BOC needs the help of gemologists to properly determine the auction price of the Roumeliotes jewelry, which has been in the custody of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for years.