Marcos family jewelry collection. (REUTERS / Romeo Ranoco)

Eager to Donate to the People, Imelda Marcos’ Jewelry Collection will be at Auction Soon

Philippines - Eager to donate to the people, a number of jewelry belongs to the former Philippine first lady, Imelda Marcos, will begin auctioning soon. It is reported that the jewelry to be auctioned is confiscated three decades ago after her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, lost his government power. The state asset recovery agency has also received approval and permission from President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the proposed auction.

"I asked Duterte, do you agree to sell it? Yes, as long as the proceeds from the sale will benefit the people," said a presidential spokesman, Salvador Panelo, as reported by Reuters on Friday (31/5).

The confiscation of the jewelry was carried out in Hawaii, where Ferdinand and his wife were exiled. Three sets of jewelry collections stored in the safe of this central bank had been valued for USD 6 million IDR 85 billion in 1991.

Meanwhile, other items that were also confiscated were 25 carat diamonds which were valued at around USD 5 million or almost IDR 71 billion. The Philippines government has tried to auction off a collection of luxury goods belonging to President Marcos's family, but apparently this was opposed by Imelda Marcos, who is 89 years old this year.

The family of the late Ferdinand Marcos is known to be glamorous and likes to collect luxury items since he was in his government power. Imelda Marcos left more than a thousand pairs of fancy shoes when she and her family ran away from the Philippines after a people movement in 1986. However, the Marcos family was finally allowed to go home even again active in politics, after Ferdinand Marcos died in exile in 1989 and now currently staying in the country again.

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20190531173149-106-400101/koleksi-perhiasan-imelda-marcos-siap-dilelang