Since the Marcoses were deposed in 1989, the search for their vast art collection, acquired through ill-gotten wealth has been ongoing. The Presidential Commission on Good Governance has been committed to bringing back said pieces to Philippine jurisdiction through various efforts. One of them is a website where people can leave tips and leads where to find said pieces which include works by Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh.
These pieces were acquired by Imelda Marcos through her frequent and expensive trips abroad. Along with lavish shopping sprees and jewelry collections, she would buy these art works and reportedly would then keep some of them displayed in a Manhattan apartment.
With the rise in the awareness of the Marcoses abusive ways especially due to the secret burial of the former dictator, the hunt grows stronger. As of today, the government has only seized a small amount of the estimated complete collection. The seized pieces are around $500 million. “Even though it’s been 30 years, we are still facing challenges because of the Marcos family’s efforts to conceal and take hold of their ill-gotten wealth,” said Reynold S. Munsayac, acting chair of the PCGG.
Some pieces are kept in safety in New York, awaiting a court’s decision as they have been confiscated for tax charges. Other remain undocumented or are suspected to be in the possession of Marcos allies around the world.
If you have an idea or two of how you can help acquire these pieces, ranging from Manansalas to Pissaros, visit the website here.
[Inquirer.net]
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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