MANILA, Philippines -- The government said Thursday it will move soon to recover four New York City properties that two U.S. real estate agents said they brokered for deposed President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda.
Testifying Wednesday before a House subcommittee in Washington, brothers Joseph and Ralf Bernstein outlined complex deals they used to buy the $316 million Manhattan buildings for the Marcoses.
Raul Daza, a member of President Corazon Aquino's Good Government Commission, said the disclosure by the Bernstein brothers spelled 'victory' in the panel's efforts to secure the properties.
The Bernsteins have identified the properties as the Crown building, the Herald Center, a third building on Wall Street and a fourth on Madison Avenue.
The Aquino government, installed after a military-led revolt in February toppled Marcos, is trying to recover what it calls Marcos's 'ill-gotten' wealth.
Rep. Stephen Solarz, D-N.Y., who heads a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee, said in Washington that the Bernsteins' testimony 'removed whatever lingering doubts that the Marcoses owned some of the most prestigious property in Manhattan.'
'We're satisfied and pleased that the Bernsteins have seen their way to admit what we all along knew had been the fact and the truth,' Daza said.
'We expect that after the Bernsteins admit before the courts that they are simply nominees or dummies of Mr. and Mrs. Marcos, then the work of the commission being undertaken by our lawyers in New York would be made less difficult.
'This would be a factor, we would like to think, that would help us recover those properties in the name of the Filipino people,' Daza said.
Daza said he expected the Bernsteins to be summoned to appear in court proceedings initiated by the Aquino government in New York to recover the properties.
He said the Bernsteins' revelation may place Marcos in a 'dilemma' since he has already denied he owns the properties.
'When the Bernsteins say that these properties belong to the Marcoses it would be very difficult for the Marcoses to turn around,' Daza said.
