Charges dropped against Marcos son-in-law

MANILA, Philippines, July 30 (UPI) -- The Philippine Supreme Court dropped charges against the son-in-law of ex-President Ferdinand Marcos in a $4.67 billion ill-gotten-wealth case.

In the one-page ruling, the court reaffirmed its intent to prosecute Marcos' children, Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta, and their mother, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Monday.

The Marcos family members are accused of using three media networks for their personal benefit, using an apparel company for dollar salting and illegally acquiring and operating a bus company.

"No further pleadings or motions shall be entertained in this case. Let entry of final judgment be made in due course," the ruling read.

The Sandiganbayan appeals court had dropped the cases against the three children in December 2005 under a rule permitting a defendant to be dismissed due to insufficient evidence, the newspaper reported.

The Supreme Court ruled in February the three Marcos children, being compulsory heirs to the president, should be defendants in the case.

"Thus, while it was not proven that respondents conspired to accumulate ill-gotten wealth, they may be in possession, ownership or control of such ill-gotten properties or the proceeds thereof as heirs of the Marcos couple," the court said.