Imelda ready to give up $30m in deal

Former first lady Imelda Marcos is again courting the government to enter into a compromise deal that would absolve her of all pending civil liabilities.

She is, however, willing to give up only $30 million out of the identified $35 million bank deposits which were under the custody of a finance agency in the U.S.

Haydee Yorac, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), asked to recover an estimated $35 million alleged ill-gotten wealth of Marcos, said she had a meeting last week with her lawyer, James Linn, to discuss the possible settlement deal.

Yorac had suggested to Linn that he persuade his client to surrender not only $30 m of her US deposits, but all the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

Yorac also told Linn that Marcos should return all the 157 missing paintings and art collections by European masters, which have been under the government's sequestration orders.

She said among the conditions set by the PCGG for a compromise deal is the universal disclosure of all the Marcos ill-gotten wealth here and abroad; these assets should be placed under government control and the agreement should cover all the wealth of the Marcos heirs.