SC stops return of Laguna property to Marcos family

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) stopped a Sandiganbayan order for the government to return to the Marcos family a 25-hectare property in Cabuyao, Laguna.

“You, your agents, representatives and/or any person or persons acting upon your orders or in your place or stead, are hereby enjoined from implementing the assailed Sandiganbayan resolutions dated 11 January 2010 and 1 December 2010 until further orders from this Court,” read the minute resolution obtained by The STAR.

The SC granted a petition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) seeking a reversal of the Sandiganbayan ruling.

Respondents Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Gregorio Ma. Araneta III and Irene Marcos-Araneta were given 10 days to comment on the petition.

The anti-graft court voided the government takeover of the Canlubang Mansion due to the PCGG’s failure to include the property in the lawsuit.

However, Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, who chairs the SC Third Division, said the property must not be immediately transferred in the names of the Marcoses pending review of the Sandiganbayan decision.

The government seized the property more than two decades ago.

The Canlubang Mansion was among several Marcos rest houses turned over by the Aquino administration under the care of the Department of Tourism in 1988.

Records show government lawyers had tried to remedy the situation by filing a fourth amended complaint for Civil Case No. 0002.

In a resolution dated Sept. 2, 1998, the court denied the government motion.