Compromise deal with Marcoses need more study: Aguirre

August 30, 2017

The Duterte administration may consider a compromise agreement with the Marcos family in exchange for the return of their so-called ill-gotten wealth, a Cabinet official said on Wednesday.

"The President is authorized and has the power to make compromise or any agreement with the Marcoses. If there will be a new agreement, there should be enabling law or initiative law to be issued by the President himself," Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in an interview.

But, Aguirre, who exercises administrative supervision over the Presidential Commission on Good Government, said would need more study.

"This should be carefully studied - do we need a new EO ( Executive Order) or could we do it in with just the present power of the president. We will study it first," Aguirre said.

Aguirre said the possible return of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses would have legal repercussions in the cases against them.

He also said Duterte's  plan  to replace PCGG should be considered.

"Although we support the President in the formation of that body, he can consider the option of giving new powers to the PCGG by appointing additional two commissioners to strengthen its jurisdiction," he added.

Aguirre said it would take another two years to wind up PCGG operations as the commission is still holding more than P200 billion in sequestered money and several assets. DMS