Philippines says Marcos jewels to remain with govtThe Philippines has said jewellery worth 310 million dollars confiscated con·fis·catetr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. from former first lady Imelda Marcos Imelda Trinidad Romuáldez-Marcos (born July 2, 1929 in Manila) is a former First Lady and influential political figure in the Philippines. She is known as the "Steel Butterfly" and remains a controversial figure not only in her home country, but around the world. would remain under lock and key in the government's control. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera met Tuesday with officials from the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG PCGG Presidential Commission on Good Government (Philippines) PCGG Philippine Commission on Good Government PCGG Protein Crystal Growth Glovebox ) and reviewed the case after her predecessor suggested that Marcos was the rightful owner of the jewels. Devanadera, speaking after the talks, told reporters that the collection was considered part of the Marcos family's stolen wealth and remained the subject of a civil forfeiture The involuntary relinquishment of money or property without compensation as a consequence of a breach or nonperformance of some legal obligation or the commission of a crime. The loss of a corporate charter or franchise as a result of illegality, malfeasance, or Nonfeasance. case pending in an anti-graft court ruling. "The Supreme Court has said that any property that is well and beyond the legitimate income of president Marcos are considered ill-gotten wealth," she said. The PCGG was set up shortly after late dictator dictator, originally a Roman magistrate appointed to rule the state in times of emergency; in modern usage, an absolutist or autocratic ruler who assumes extraconstitutional powers. From 501 B.C. until the abolition of the office in 44 B.C., Rome had 88 dictators. Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralín Marcos (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was President of the Philippines from 1966 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives (1949-1959) and a member of the Philippine Senate (1959-1965). , his family and cronies were forced to flee the country in 1986 in the wake of massive street protests and a military revolt. Devanadera said the collection was covered under one of many unresolved Not completed; not finished; not linked together. See resolve. civil cases filed against Imelda Marcos and her family, and therefore would not be turned over to the former first lady without a court ruling. Asked whether the government intended to return the jewels, she said: "No." Imelda Marcos, known worldwide for her vast collection of shoes that symbolized her wasteful and flamboyant lifestyle, said Monday that the collection included personal pieces and religious images. She said she was hopeful of having the collection returned after 23 years. She was speaking shortly after Devanadera's predecessor, Raul Gonzalez, issued a legal opinion in which he said that Imelda evidently "remains to be the legitimate owner of the prized jewelleries." It was not clear why Gonzalez, who was earlier removed from the justice department after a five year stint, issued the legal opinion and he was not available for comment Tuesday. Two sets of jewellery were abandoned by the Marcos family when they fled. The Marcos children are back in power in the family's northern heartland, but Imelda Marcos failed in a 1992 presidential bid. She has challenged government plans to auction off the collection and has demanded their return but in May the PCGG said the jewellery would be auctioned. 
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