Gov’t to seize priceless paintings from Marcoses

MANILA, Philippines - A painting of the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo. A reclining woman by Pablo Picasso. A portrait by Francisco de Goya. A still life by Paul Gauguin.

These priceless artworks by several of the world’s masters, valued at millions of dollars, were acquired by Ferdinand Marcos during his dictatorship, with funds that the government says were looted from the Filipino people.

They are among eight valuable paintings which have been ordered seized from the Marcos family by the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft court yesterday ordered its Security and Sheriff’s Services Division to conduct the seizure.

Magistrates of the Sandiganbayan’s First Division said the artworks should be placed under the custody of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) pending the resolution of a civil case.

Aside from the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Femme Couchee VI (Reclining Woman VI) by Picasso, Portrait of the Marqueza de Sta. Cruz by De Goya, and Still Life with Idol by Gauguin, also to be seized for safekeeping are the LaBaignade Au Grand Temps by Pierre Bonnard, Vase of Chrysanthemums by Bernard Buffet, Jardin de Kew pres de la Serre 1892 by Camille Pisarro, and L’Aube by Joan Miro.

The Sandiganbayan order was anchored on a petition filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

Sandiganbayan sheriffs were specifically authorized to search for the artworks in all known residential addresses and offices of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos.

These places include her office at Room NB-218 of the House of Representatives, her condominium suites at the Penthouse of One McKinley Place in Bonifacio Global City and 34-B Pacific Plaza condominium in Ayala Avenue in Makati City, the Marcos family’s ancestral house in Batac, Ilocos Norte; and the family’s old house on Don Mariano Marcos Street corner P. Guevarra Street in San Juan.

The Sandiganbayan said its sheriffs are “hereby ordered to seize, secure and attach the paintings described… and such other paintings listed in (the) judicial affidavit dated Aug. 18, 2014 of (PCGG) Commissioner Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga.”

“If and when the paintings are transferred in its custody, the (BSP) shall not move, remove or transfer the paintings without prior authority from this court and shall do whatever is necessary for the preservation of the said properties under judicial custody,” the order read.