Marcos kin need Philippine Congress approval for deal: Duterte

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday that Congress should be involved in getting the family of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to surrender their wealth, since they would likely seek immunity in return.
Marcos and his wife Imelda were accused of plundering about US$10 billion (RM42.6 billion) from state coffers in their 20 years in power. A bloodless "People Power" army-backed uprising in 1986 chased the family into US exile.
He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 but his family made a political comeback in the Philippines, with widow Imelda and their children being elected to office.
Duterte has openly supported the family, encouraging the late dictator's son Ferdinand Jnr in his failed bid for the vice-presidency last year. The president and vice-president are elected separately in the Philippines.
Duterte said last week a Marcos family member had consulted him about a proposal to hand over some assets to the government. But on Tuesday the president said such a move would need congressional approval.
"You have to have the consent of Congress because they have to formulate a law. It is a long process. It is not up to me," he told reporters.
Although Duterte said the Marcos family had not asked for immunity, he said they clearly would not offer to return the wealth unless they were given such protection in exchange.
"These Marcoses will not agree to return it and then to be jailed," he said.
Duterte warned that if the government did not agree to offer immunity, "you will look till the ends of the earth to get them," referring to the Marcos wealth.
Duterte had originally said he would accept the Marcos offer and planned to appoint a retired supreme court judge to negotiate with the family on the government's behalf.
But his suggestion was fiercely opposed by victims of the Marcos regime. They say the family has never admitted guilt for widespread rights abuses and corruption during the dictatorship.
No member of the Marcos family went to prison despite the government recovery of part of the family fortune through litigation and out-of-court settlements.
The government announced in June that Duterte may abolish the government agency that has recovered some 170 billion pesos (RM14.48 billion) from Marcos and his family.
Duterte also stunned the nation last November by allowing the late dictator to be buried in the national "Heroes' Cemetery" despite a widespread outcry. — AFP