Gov't to continue hunt for Marcos' ill-gotten wealth

Malacanang said on Friday that the Philippine government has not wavered in going after the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) will continue to do its mandate.

There were reported new developments in the pursuit of Marcos wealth in Australia following a report by an Australian newspaper about a former model in the 70s who became a sole beneficiary of Marcos's secret accounts.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the PCGG has not stopped its recovery work, adhering to its mandate to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

Although the PCGG does not receive much media attention sometimes, it does not necessarily mean that there's a lull in its works, Lacierda said.

"What they would like to emphasize is that the recovery work continues," he said.

There is also no update on the planned abolition of the commission, he said. But regardless of whatever plans the government has in mind for the PCGG, its work must continue, he said.

Two years ago, the PCGG said it would look into the reported ill-gotten wealth of the late president in Australia believed to be under the name of a former swimsuit model.

The former president reportedly had an affair with a certain Evelin Hegyesi, a swimsuit model in her younger days in the 70s. Hegyesi, who is now more than 40 years old is said to have borne Marcos a child.

Marcos, who ruled the Philippines for more than 20 years with an iron fist, was known to have affairs with actresses and fashion models.

The late president Corazon Aquino, the President's mother, established the PCGG immediately after she assumed the presidency following the ouster of Marcos through People Power in 1986.

The commission's mandate is to recover the dictator's alleged ill-gotten wealth estimated to reach some US$10 billion. (PNA)