Imelda seeks to get back seized paintings

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos are studying their next move after the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCCG) seized 15 paintings from her family’s San Juan City residence last Tuesday in compliance with an order from the Sandiganbayan.

A source close to Marcos said her lawyers met yesterday and narrowed down their legal options to two: filing a motion for reconsideration or appeal before the Sandiganbayan, or questioning the anti-graft court’s order before the Supreme Court.

The source was not sure whether the paintings are still in Marcos’ possession, and if they are, it appears that only she knows where the artworks are kept.

“She feels frustrated that she and her family continue to be persecuted but we explained the legal issues to her and the situation,” the source said.

Marcos is still recovering in her condominium unit in Makati City following her confinement in a private hospital in Metro Manila due to a serious bout of fever and colds, the source said.

The PCGG will tap the international auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s to assess the value and authenticity of the artworks seized from the Marcos family last Tuesday.

PCGG Chairman Andres Bautista said they could not yet estimate the value of the 15 paintings confiscated by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and PCGG from the Marcos residence in San Juan.

The 15 paintings in the writ of preliminary attachment issued by the Sandiganbayan are just a few of the 150 paintings the PCGG is searching for, Bautista said.

Nick Suarez, head of the PCGG’s Public Information Office, said the acquisition cost of 11 paintings was estimated at $7,015,400 and one masterpiece was valued at 8,000 pounds.

He said the masterpieces were acquired between 1965 and 1986.

“We expect higher values of these artworks after 28 years,” Suarez said.

Some of the paintings confiscated were supposedly reproductions, according to the PCGG.

“There were three replicas of the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo Buonarroti,” Suarez said.

Last year, Vilma Bautista, a former aide of Mrs. Marcos, was convicted in the US for illegally selling a 1899 Monet painting entitled “Japanese Footbridge Over Water Lily Pond in Giverny” from her former boss’ collection.

The painting was worth $32 million.

NBI warns buyers of paintings

The NBI warned that buyers of the paintings included in the writ of attachments issued by the Sandiganbayan against the Marcos family could be charged with qualified theft.

With Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan