PCGG to file forfeiture cases vs Bejo, et al

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is set to file forfeiture cases in the Sandiganbayan to recover the Swiss deposits of four Marcos cronies and relatives, including Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez.

PCGG chief Haydee Yorac said the assets have been frozen since 1986 along with the $660-million escrow deposits at the Philippine National Bank.

The deposits, she said, are under the name of Alfredo ‘Bejo’ Romualdez, former Energy Minister Geronimo Velasco, Alfredo de Borja and Carmelita Clavecilla.

The account of Romualdez, brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, amounts to 12 million Swiss francs; Velasco, $4 million; De Borja, $500,000; and Clavecilla, $250,000.

Yorac added that the amounts could be more because of interests accumulated over the years.

PCGG Commissioner Ruben Carranza Jr. said Clavecilla, a former employee of Velasco, had sought the assistance of former President Joseph Estrada to withdraw her account.

Carranza said the commission has acquired Clavecilla’s letter to Estrada dated Jan. 20, 2001.

"But the letter was received by Malacañang on Jan. 30, 2001 after Estrada was ousted," he added.

The letter showed that Clavecilla opened an account amounting to $250,000 with Union Bancaire Privee and American Express Bank in Switzerland in March 1986.

Carranza said Clavecilla had denied working for Velasco but records at the former Ministry of Energy and her letter proved otherwise.

The same letter showed that the $250,000 was paid to Clavecilla for having worked for Velasco since February 1978.

"It was out of gratitude and appreciation of my services that Mr. Velasco paid me a modest sum of money when I disengaged from his employ in 1986 as it was also during this time that the situation in the country was quite volatile," the letter states.