Imelda claims jewelry in exhibit mostly fakes

LAOAG CITY, Philippines – Beware of fake jewelry.

That’s the warning of former first lady Imelda Marcos to those who want to see jewelry confiscated from her that the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) plans to exhibit before the end of the year.

“My jewelry were some of the best” and were contained in 38 suitcases, Marcos told reporters at the Fort Ilocandia Hotel here last Tuesday.

“They took 38 suitcases of Louis Vuitton. ‘Di lang fake ang nasa kamay nila ngayon, ninakaw pa yong iba (What they have now are not only fake pieces but they also stole some of the jewelry),” she said.

Marcos refused to identify those who stole her jewelry, but one of her aides who requested anonymity told The STAR that supporters and close friends of the late President Corazon Aquino, who took over from her husband former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, were responsible for the missing jewels.

The PCGG earlier announced that they would exhibit three sets of Marcos’ jewels in the last quarter of the year.

The commission said the three sets consist of the Malacañang collection reportedly valued in 2003 at P5 million to P7 million; the Hawaii collection with an assessed value of $1.5 million to $2 million; and the Roumelliotes collection valued at $4.7 million to $6.4 million.