The Sandiganbayan Second Division dismissed two civil cases against former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, and Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
The case revolved around the ill-gotten wealth acquired through the misuse and misappropriation of the Coco Levy funds. The resolution promulgated on December 6, 2024, resolves Civil Case No. 0033-A and Civil Case No. 0033-F. Both cases center on the misappropriation and acquisition of the Coco Levy funds, which was later named the Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) in 1975.
The Sandiganbayan ruled that both cases be dismissed due to the plaintiff Republic’s Motion and Manifestation and the attached Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) resolution. According to the PCGG resolution, the Commission will no longer pursue claims for the “actual, moral, temperate, nominal, and exemplary damages” as indicated in the Third Amended Complaint of both civil cases.
The Supreme Court also ruled that the only matter remaining in the resolution is the Complaint-in-Intervention filed by Subic International Air Charter in Civil Case No. 0033-A. Cojuangco also consistently prayed that the instant cases be declared “concluded and closed,” as the complaints had already been waived or resolved with finality.
However, the Sandiganbayan reiterated that the Court cannot fully dismiss Civil Case No. 0033-A due to the pendency of the complaint-in-intervention for Subic Air.
“Any person who has or claims an interest in the matter in litigation, in the success of either of the parties to an action, or against both, may intervene in such action. And when he has become a party thereto it is error for the court to dismiss the action, including the intervention suit based on an agreement between the original parties to the action,” the Supreme Court ruled.
“Any settlement made by the plaintiff and the defendant is necessarily ineffective unless the intervenor is a party to it,” it added.
As stated, both cases were dismissed, but the Sandiganbayan is currently negotiating a possible compromise agreement with Subic Air. Therefore, Enrile’s previous Motion to Dismiss the case was declared moot and academic.
“WHEREFORE, premise considered, plaintiff’s manifestation and the attached PCGG Resolution to the effect that it is no longer pursuing the remaining causes of action for damages against the defendants in Civil Cases Nos. 0033-A and 0033-F is NOTED,” the resolution read.
Due to that, Civil Cases 0033-A and 0033-F are dismissed with prejudice due to the withdrawal of the plaintiff Republic. The case shall remain active until the final disposition of Subic Air’s complaint-in-intervention.
The PCGG originally filed the cases back in 1987 and 1995, as part of their efforts to recover the ill-gotten wealth during the Marcos administration.
