Sandiganbayan dismisses wealth forfeiture case vs Marcos cronies

The Sandiganbayan has dismissed a wealth forfeiture case against several alleged cronies of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his widow, Imelda Marcos, for lack of evidence.

The court ruled that the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) failed to prove that the defendants' shares in Eastern Telecommunications Philippines Inc. originated from the government or were held to conceal true ownership.

In its 38-page decision promulgated on July 29, the Fourth Division dismissed the complaint against more than 20 individual shareholders of ETPI who were accused of acting as dummies for the Marcoses during martial law.

The court emphasized that the PCGG did not present any evidence or witnesses to support claims that the respondents' shares were ill-gotten or held in trust for the Marcos family.

This latest decision effectively clears the remaining defendants, including Andres Africa and Juan de Ocampo, who had their cases dismissed due to lack of proof.