Website to track Imelda Marcos loot

Photo credit: The Daily Mail

The Philippines plans to launch a website next month to crowdsource tips on the whereabouts of about 200 missing artworks that were owned by the former first lady, Imelda Marcos, including paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso and Rembrandt.

Andrew de Castro, of the presidential commission on good government, said commissioners wanted to inform people about the art treasures so they can help track them down.

The commission has been tasked with recovering the ill-gotten wealth amassed by the family of Ferdinand Marcos, the country’s late dictator, after billions of dollars were looted from the state. His widow became known for her excesses, symbolised by her huge shoe and jewellery collections.

Last week experts were concluding an appraisal of jewellery seized after the family fled to Hawaii in 1986 after the popular revolt that ended Marcos’s two-decade rule. The pieces include a barrel-shaped diamond worth at least $5m and a Cartier diamond tiara estimated to be worth more than $100,000.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government said the items included a rare 25-carat pink diamond, a range of necklaces, brooches, and crowns made from Burmese rubies.

The commission said others are diamonds from India and South Africa and emeralds from Colombia in various sizes.

It said government has invited appraisers from international auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s to inspect three sets of jewels held at the Philippines Central Bank’s vault.
Marcos ruled for 20 years until he and his family were forced into exile by a four-day mass uprising in Feb 1986.

Members of his family still face corruption charges for allegedly stealing billions from the country’s coffers.