The Sandiganbayan has dismissed another civil case against the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, citing the failure of the Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG) to prosecute the case for nearly four decades.
In a 12-page resolution dated February 18, the court’s Second Division ruled that the state’s prolonged inaction rendered the case untenable. The lawsuit sought the return of vehicles and household appliances allegedly obtained by co-accused Fernando Timbol through his connections with the Marcoses.
“There is no question that the plaintiff has failed to prosecute the case for an unreasonable length of time,” the court stated, adding that the complaint had “clogged the docket” for too long.
The case, filed in July 1987 as part of a series of civil suits by the PCGG to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth, also sought damages and attorney’s fees. However, the Sandiganbayan noted that the unexplained delay—spanning more than four decades—warranted its dismissal.
The court further clarified that the case was “deemed disposed of in its entirety,” particularly in light of a February 1989 ruling that had already forfeited the disputed assets in favor of the State.
This dismissal follows a pattern of similar rulings by the Sandiganbayan, where cases were junked due to “inordinate delay” by the PCGG and the Office of the Solicitor General in presenting evidence.
