IMELDA MARCOS FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT and THE DEATH OF NINOY AQUINO

page contents

This video shows us the 1972 assassination attempt of Imelda Marcos.  Notice how many slashes and jabs this guy gets before he is shot and how many shots it takes for him to go down.  The would be assassin was Carlito  Dimahilig.  Marcos required 75 stitches.  

On July 1, 2010, President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino 3 served his first full day in office in the Philippines. The video posted here is in memory of and in tribute to the President's father. On August 21, 1983, opposition leader Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr. attempted to end a long exile and return to politics in the Philippines. An opponent of President Ferdinand Marcos since the late 1960's, Aquino felt it was time to challenge an aging and ailing Marcos again. This reporter was the last person to interview Aquino before he was gunned down by a bullet to the back of the head as he exited the airplane from Taipei at Manila airport. Aquino told me he was wearing a bullet proof vest and that he would not be 'paralyzed by inaction.' 'If my time has come - so be it.' Aquino told me. The video here, out of synch and of poor quality is an edit of my tapes of that day: the last few minutes in the life of Aquino. The Aquino story formed part of my reporting life in the 1980's. I later covered the 'Yellow Power Revolution' of the current President's mother Cory, a revolution which led to her ascendency to the Presidency less than three years after 'Ninoy's' death.

Read More

A LETTER TO PRES CORY REGARDING MARCOS MASSIVE WEALTH

page contents

The following is extracted from Eric A. San Juan's book "Marcos Legacy Revisited," courtesy of "Dirk."  The preamble and after word is by, author San Juan and the letter itself does exist and was circulated in the "market" soon after it was written.





Since the search for the so-called Marcos fortune began, the nation has been treated to all sorts of reports about cash being stashed in the banks of Switzerland, and gold bullion at Fort Knox, the Bank of England and many places in the Philippines. The diggings at Fort Santiago sanctioned by no less than President Aquino's national security adviser showed how much the government put its faith in the story of the hidden gold treasure.

The diggings have stopped but unknown to the public, a small group of men continues to operate at People's Television 4 station under the tutelage of Conrado Limcaoco Jr, for no higher purpose than to pursue leads about the Yamashita treasure with the assistance of Noel Soriano, the National Security Adviser of Cory Aquino.

In the last failed coup, military rebels claimed to have carted away from PTV-4 documents pertaining to this gold search. On the basis of these papers, the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan-Soldiers Of the Filipino People-Young Officers Union claimed that the Limcaoco group had recovered some gold and had gathered facts that lead them to believe the Yamashita treasure exists, but they appeared determined to hide this from the Filipino people.

Limcaoco denies the charges. But he does not deny the existence of his work and what he has been doing. He says that the group's task is to evaluate every bit of inforwhation that comes along, without prejudging it.

Most of what comes along is mind-boggling, but Limcaoco says he is not prepared to reject anything.

Based on the group's work, an October 10, 1989, Limcaoco's staff prepared the draft of a report to President Aquino, which proposes to tell all. Limcaoco says he never signed the letter, and that it was not sent at all. But even without the final signature and without it having been sent, the letter reads better than a story, whether factual or fictional.

The following is Limcaoco's letter to Mrs. Aquno:

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

10 October 1989


CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines
Malacanang, Manila

Dear Mrs. President,

I have never waivered in my commitment to serve you and our people over the past few years. Even in our bleakest moments, I was confident we would triumph -- and thus far, we have.

In the course of tracking down the right-wing military adventurists a task which is continuing, we have unearthed a story -- parts of which you may have heard before -- but which we feel deserves a serious second glance at this particular historical conjuncture. I ask you to please read through this report personally and not show or pass it on to other officials of this govemment until we have had the chance to meet, should you feel such a meeting is necessary after going through this. Please suspend your judgment and disbelief and know that this report was written after much in-depth intelligence work and soul-searching on my part.


I. Background/Premises

Our work thus far supports the contention that the Yamashita treasure does exist and appears to be the basis for the Marcos' hidden wealth. What has been recovered and sequestered to date is not even the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Over 90% of the worlds legal and illegal gold production were in Asia at the outbreak of World War II. Why? History will tell us why. From the galleon trade where spices and silk were traded for gold and other precious metals to the days before World War II when the Europeans, fearing a war in the West, moved their gold to their Asian colonies and former colonies for safekeeping. Thus, England moved their gold to Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia -France to Vietnam, and so forth. The rest you know. The Japanese brought the gold here and had to leave it here as they retreated in defeat

From 1967 to 1973, Cipirino Garcia Sta. Romana found some of this gold and began shipping it out of the country mostly to the PROC. In 1973/4, Sta. Romana signed a power of attorney over the gold to Marcos. More of the treasure was found with the help of treasuro maps, foreign treasure hunters and the AFP (many of the retired generals now in Hawaii) in subsequent years. It was either (1) shipped out as is, (2) laundered via the Central Bank reminting facilities and through other means and then shipped out, or (3) reburied under the custodianship of trusted subalterns or heirs. Further, there reportedly is still 35-37% of the treasure still to be discovered -- which the likes of Noel Soriano and company have set their eyes on.

II. The Global Implications

There is a forty (40) year period within which another country may claim treasure/property taken from it with another country. This period lapsed in November 1985.

An interesting question is -- who owns the gold? Or better still -- who wants the gold? Technically, now the people of the Philippines can lay some claim to the gold, assuming Marcos was not an innocent "finder" or "treasure hunter" entitled to a share, but instead used his position and influence to find it, ship it out, and even sell some of it. To answer the question --

The countries of Europe want the gold! They believe much of it was theirs to begin with. They want or need it so much they are even willing to buy some of it back. A 1983/84 sale we are reconstructing indicates that the 11 monarchs of Europe syndicated a deal involving over 120 banks with the Bank of England as the lead bank to buy back some of the gold. This transaction is known by the code JOB/HK/25 which I will detail later.

The 12 Asian countries conquered and plundered by Japan in World War II want the gold! They believe they have a stake in this as it was from their countries that the Japanese took it from. Marcos struck deals with many of these Asian countries. He shipped back some of the gold to them in return for a share in the booty. For example, the gold shipped back to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India are reportedly split now at 70% of the particular country and 30% for Marcos. Japan allegedly has been promised 50% of Marcos 30% in these Asian settlements. Mrs. Yamashita has alleged shares in some of the gold stock in Asia. I will also detail this later in this report.

The United States of America wants some of the gold! The US had virtually no gold of its own to begin with. They need it to back their currency and to stave off economic difficulties. Marcos shipped large stocks of gold to the USA. Marcos allegedly committed to sell 300,000 metric tons of the gold to the US. Obviously, the Asian countries and the Europeans would look with displeasure at this -- if they knew about it or could prove it We have evidence that at least 2 major sales were negotiated with CIA and US Treasury front organizations in 1983/4 and 1984/5. One of these transactions in 1984/5 codenamed YAB42 was apparently aborted because of a difference in payment terms. The US offered 20% in cash and 80% in US government securities.

Marcos wanted 80% in cash and 20% in securities. The amount involved is staggering. A taped conversation with one of the buyer negotiators indicate that senior executive officials of the US Government during the period had to get Congressional approval to increase the US foreign debt to accommodate this deal. As late as mid-1986, US officials were trying to convince Marcos to conclude the deal in Hawaii. In 1987, feelers from their front organizations -- e.g., Navegacion Global's Mr. Bullock were sent to this government (A letter from Mr. Bullock was received by Malacanang Records Office last October 8, 1987 and is enclosed as Annex A). I believe some of our people may have even sat with Mr Bullock. I do not think they knew what Bullock vas really up to -- or understood or believed him if he told them. We allegedly have gold sitting in US depositories -- which the US government wants badly. They reportedly cannot release their new "rainbow dollar" (multicolored dollar bills) that are already printed without this gold to back it up.

III. The Marcos Scheme of Things

Marcos compartmentalized this whole operation so that very few could piece it all together. We have managed to assemble quite a number of Marcos' real operating people -- those that shipped the gold out, found the buyers, negotiated the transactions We are slowy piecing the puzzle together.

For each Marcos account, whether in cash or in bullion, these are assigned trustees and signatories -- some of whom do not even know each other. There are secret bank/depository arrangements such as access code and security countersigns.

Before his death, Marcos organized what is called THE UMBRELLA, a network of 54 people whose task is to manage these assets in the event of his death. In theory, the umbrella, not Mrs. Marcos or his children would execute his will. At least two members of the umbrella's inner core of about one dozen are already working with us. The umbrella has never been tested in action before. Marcos has never died before. Those who now work with me tell me that the chairman of the umbrella is a very decent man who can be talked to on behalf of our nation. Apparently, there is no sharp cleavage between this group (family, heirs, followers, etc.) and Imelda's. Most of what we know is FM's not Imelda's. It is doubtful that even she would know all of FM's holdings. The destabilization efforts will most probably come from Imelda's camp not surprisingly. Marcos is reported to have revised his will a few months before he died, asking former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza to Hawaii for this purpose. Imelda was reportedly vehemently against the revision. We are trying, through the umbrella, to get a copy of this will.

Exactly how much gold is involved? The estimates vary, and understandably so because of the complex shipping procedures and the compartmentalized nature of the operation.

I have seen documents saying that the gold under the control of the umbrella (there are smaller stocks not reported to or controlled by the umbrella) is in the neighborhood of 1.33 million metric tons (MT). Whether one believes this figure or a lessor figure is not material given the magnitude of the entire scenario. One metric ton of gold is worth
about $11 million. The Phippines' annual gold production is estimated at between 40-60 metric tons The world's "legal" annual gold production, which is regulated by the London gold cartel so as not to upset gold pricesas well as the value of currencies of the world, is estimated at between 1,200 to 1,400 metric tons.

So, where is the gold? How much of it have we traced thus far?

IV. Where Is It?

Our sources have pinpointed the locations, volume, and details of many of the Marcos and Imelda gold accounts around the world.

We have left out the volume figures for countries other than the United States which are relevant for understanding points raised in other sections of the report We do have the detailed breakdown of these other accounts in the other countries but thought it best to omit these for now. The volume/amounts involved are staggering and may be subject to misinterpretation There is admittedly a possibility in some instances of double-counting an entry because of the process of shipping and laundering the gold from one country to another. We can present the figures per country and per bank should you wish to see them.

Whatever volume figures are ultimately believed or proven, the magnitude remains astounding. The gold was shipped out in a span of more than a decade from the late sixties to the mid-eighties. In the later frenzied stages from 1983-85, all forms of transport were used from commercial and chartered ocean vessels and aircraft to the military aircraft of the Philippines.




A. Asia

1. PROC       --     in various depositories in Southern China & Switzerland; joint IRM/FM stock

--     an amount allegedly given to Mao Tse Tung by IRM, 1973, now with Madam Mao

2. Singapore    --   in three banks in Singapore; banks and signatories identified

--      an amount reportedly given to Lee Kuan Yew by IRM in 1975, now in Tatlee Bank, Singapore


3. Malaysia     --     in Bank Negara (Central bank), shipped 1973

4. Indonesia     --     in at least 4 banks in Jakarta, 9,600 MT sold in 1987 for FM to Union Bank of Switzerland

5. India     --     in various depositories; one 94 year-old trustee identified

6. Hong Kong      --     in 10 Hong Kong banks; banks, signatories, account numbers, etc. identified

7. Marianas      --     in private storage, IRM's stock; trustee identified

8. Palau     --     in private storage, IRM's stock, trustee identified

9. Philippines   --     4,600 pieces, 75 kgs. in 18 identified banks in Metro Manila

--     more in private storage, some identified

--     more still to be dug up estimated at 400,000 MT


NOTES: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 which are FM stocks are probably covered by the 70-30 deal with each country. No. 1 still has to be studied further, as both IRM and Madame Mao are no longer in their respective nation's political structures. Nos. 7 & 8 are also IRM stocks and are not probably covered by the 70-30 deal. Japan and Mrs. Yamashita have their stakes here as mentioned. Mrs. Yamashita is co-owner of some Hongkong stock (already identified). Japan may expect 50% of FM's 30% in these Asian settlements.

A. US and Environs

1. 38,000 MT   -- various identified depository banks in New York

2. 72,000 MT   -- Fort Knox, account no. identified

3. 18,300 MT   -- in a New York bank; signatories, account codes identified

4. 62,000 MT   --  various identified depository banks; Canada, Nevada, California, and Panama

NOTES: These were shipped out covering a period of more than 10 years from 1973-1983, The MAFIA and the CIA helped ship it, including some monitored shipments through Clark Air Base. Nos. 1 & 2 formed the stock for the YAB42 transaction to be detailed later Nos. 3 & 4 were also being sold in 1983-1985. It is doubtful any of these transactions were actually consumated.

5. Bahamas      -- Banco Bahamas; trustee identified

6. Panama       -- Bank of Panama; possible 1983 sales through Navegacion Global's Bullock

B. Europe

1. England     -- in 4 identified London depository banks; IRM's stock

-- shipped 1978-85, flown to and reminted in Switzerland, then on to London in GLD bars

2. Switzerland   -- in various depository banks, some banks and signatories identified

3. FRG          -- in various depositories in Luxembourg and Bonn

--  Fabian Ver and Edna Camcam's account, some lent to back up FRG's currency

C. Africa      -- FM owns 40% of 4 leading gold mining and processing firms




V. Some Transactions Worth Looking At

We must differentiate between the movement of the stock, its ultimate destination, and its final disposition in the event it was sold. The movement often required numerous transit points and sometimes "laundering" services like those provided by Johnson Matthey reminting refineries in England and Switzerland or by the Golden Eagle reminting plant in Hong Kong and even possibly by our awn Central Bank refinery in Quezon City. The original form of the treasure was varied and often indicated their countries of origin -- e.g. 75 kg., 91.33 kg. bars with various 'hallmarks" like "Suhatra-Loyd," a dragon, AAA, etc. Internationally, the 12.5 4 GLD or Good London Delivery bar is the recognized unit of gold that is numbered and registered in the London Commodity Computer by batches with indicated owners. These GLDs in batches are covered by Gold Bullion Certificates (GBCs) that are also registered in the London computer If GLDs are bought and sold, it is often not necessary to effect a, physical transfer of the stock but merely to credit and debit or swap equivalent currency or other GLDs or GBCs.

In 1983, FM gave the signal to start selling his gold in grand fashion. This was perhaps triggered by the unrest and re-awakening after 21 August. Literally hundreds of gold buyers, traders, brokers, and middlemen converged in Manila in the years 1983-85, FM issued "mandates" to select people to sell this gold for him (A sample of a "mandate" granted to a certain Konsehala Candelaria V. Santiago is enclosed as Annex B). Others managed to secure "sub-mandates" from the original mandate holders. Still others produced "fake mandates" that they used to con some buyers with to give them hefty advances. We have some of the real mandate holders working with us.

In passing, today there are over 160 gold buyers and brokers now in Manila reminiscent of the 1983-85 years anticipating gold sales by FM heirs or this governments representatives. I understand a few "looseleaf" pieces of 75 kg. bars have already been sold.

Three schemes to sell the gold were conceived in this period. First, the CB Treasury bills method where gold buyers agreed to purchase CB Treasury bills equivalent to the amount of gold they were buying. Then they would redeem these CB T-bills for gold upon maturity of these notes. Second, the loan method where buyers guarantee to lend the GRP money equivalent to the gold they were buying. Using this second method, it could well be that many of our debts are not really debts but are already paid for in gold. How else can one explain the seemingly easy credit FM enjoyed with the ADB, the WB, and the IMF and their prime banks? And this could explain the cavalier spending of these loan proceeds for personal ends. Our sources say that the very top echelon of the WB and the IMF know of this. Why are they now putting on the screws for our loans? Possibly because we have not concluded YAB42. Third, the direct sale, method where after a while the sheer magnitude of the gold being sold could no longer be sanitized by either of the two methods described earlier outright sales agreements gold were negotiated.

We have a good deal of documentary evidence to prove that gold transactions were indeed negotiated by front organizations as well as legitimate banks in those years.

To highlight a few...

1. The YAB42 transaction. This was negotiated in late 1984, early 1985. As reported, this was initiated by the US government through the US Treasury and the CIA. Front organizations; and personalities were used to make the deal ostensibly a non-governmental transaction. Dr. Ole Bay (YAB is BAY backwards) was the main trustee of the buyers' group (A Trust Exchange Agreement and a Funding Trust Pay Order between seller and buyer in transaction code YAB42 are enclosed as Annex C). Navegacion Global SA, Dupont, and other CIA conduits were used.

Forty-two (42) other major trusts were tapped to help fund this purchase. Senior US officials even called FM to confirm the veracity of the mandate holder negotiating for "the seller." Close to 100 prime banks pledged their participation in helping fund the purchase. The US offered 20% cash or $200 billion through these trusts and banks and 80% in US government securities. Using the $200 billion cash as 20% of the transaction, this transaction would then involve 110,000 MT or over $1 trillion. The stock for this transaction appears to be the 38,000 MT in New York and the 72,000 MT in Ft. Knox which total exactly 110,000 MT. In June 1986, US government representatives reportedly asked FM to conclude YAB42 and turn over the 72,000 MT in Ft. Knox He declined. Earlier, FM signed over the 38,000 MT in New York which the US government found insufficient. In 1987, Navegacion Global's Bruce Bullock tried to make contact with this government, possibly to conclude this transaction.

2. In 1983-84, we have evidence of another transaction involving a minimum 62,000 MT up to a maximum of 81,000 MT negotiated with Frank Higdon, another reported CIA intermediary (Investment loans offered to the Philippine Government which is repayable with 62,321 MT of gold bars is enclosed as Annex D). The stock for this appears to be the 62,000 MT in 4 locations in mainland America plus the 18,300 MT in Citibank, New York. It is doubtful this transaction was consumwhated as these stocks have reportedly been recently verified to still be in place.

3. The JOB/HK/25 transaction. In 1983-84, 29,327 MT was reportedly sold to the 11 monarchs of Europe with over 120 prime banks participating with the Bank of England as the lead buyer's bank. The proceeds are allegedly sitting in ledger credits to the seller in the seller's banks and even in some buyer banks. The PNB Singapore and New York branches were actively involved in this transaction and the key officers of these banks then can reportedly identify where these seller credits are located. In commissions alone, there is a reported P200 B/$10 B commission for the transaction's brokers credited to the PNB through the CB sent from the Chemical Bank of New York. There is an additional $63 million in commissions for this transaction at the AMEX Bank in Hong Kong. The brokers who are claiming these commissions are with us providing us inforwhation on this deal and are willing to negotiate with this government

4. The Central Bank of the Philippines may not be able to balance their books as far as gold is concerned. A July report by a senior Central Bank official to the PCGG prompted by preliminary inforwhation on this project we passed on to the PCGG does not reconcile with other CB data we have on gold transactions for the 1984-85 period alone.

Further, our sources say that there is at least 5,000 MT of gold in the CB vaults in Manila and Quezon City. A recent Chronicle article indicates that COA may be getting some wind of this (The newspapers reports that Central Bank has violated audit standards such as under-recording of its actual gold acquisitions and the same is enclosed as Annex E). We have the GBC number of this gold in the CB vaults. Our sources say that senior CB officials may have begun to cover their tracks by moving the gold out or logging it under someone else's account number. Very simple, let us conduct a surprise physical count of the gold in both CB vaults. If this is true, without working on the rest of what we have uncovered, then this government will be richer by, $55 billion.

The original GBC was for seven sub-lots of 1,000 MT each. Sub lots 2 and 4 have already been disposed of leaving a balance 5,000 MT. Remember, our total annual gold production is only 60 MT and our declared gold reserves are possibly only in hundreds of metric tons.

5. We have evidence to support October 1983 transaction of 1,000 MT of FM gold deposited at a PCIB branch under FM trustee Alice Lazo (deceased). The buyer was Mr. Van Dreck of a organization called MERCANTUS (A PC Bank offer to sell gold to Mercantus International Establishment and an irrevocable Purchase Order by the latter are enclosed as Annex F). What business does a local bank have keeping and selling 1,000 MT of gold? Apparently, this transaction was consumated.

These are but some of the transactions we have been able to piece together We do have some documentary evidence, but our main sources are testimonies from the people who were actually involved in these transactions who are now cooperating with us.

VI. Evaluation and Assessment

We have substantial documentation that by their sheer volume indicate these gold transactions did take place.

More important, we now have in our protective custody, key actors that actually helped FM on an operational level. Their testimonies have helped us piece this extremely complex puzzle together. More importantly, they are Wiling to assist in the recovery effort of the government. They are key actors -- trustees, part-owners, signatories, umbrella members who could be vital in "unlocking" these accounts.

Why are they helping us? Partly out of a sense of patriotism. They are not rich -- many of their relatives are impoverished. They believe that it would be criminal to allow the nation to suffer in economic deprivation when something can be done relatively quickly to correct it. Quite frankly, they also hope for a just reward to be granted by this government for their assistance together with the necessary immunities from suit and documents to allow them to spend their reward or commission. This is one of the aspects needing your approval -- the amounts or percentages should be negotiated on a case to case basis depending on the assistance given and the amount to be recovered.

They have put their trust in me for the moment. Loyal FM and IRM henchmen would definitely not look kindly on their efforts to assist us.

We would have proceeded to develop this project further except that certain factors compelled me to bring this matter to your attention now.

First, FM died -- unleashing a host of now unpredictable events that may make purposive action on our end moot and academic. What was in his will? Will the umbrella or can the umbrella execute his will? What will IRM and his other relatives do? What will the host of account trustees and signatories do? What will the banks and depositories do? We are trying to ascertain the answers to some of these questions.

Second, the project has grown to a scope now requiring your knowledge, and to use an FM term, your "mandate" to proceed in directions you agree with. I am not funded for an operation of this scope. To develop this project to this point has cost nearly P300,000 of borrowed money. We now have our "assets" in various safehouses and lodging areas. Soon, one of our "assets' will go abroad to contact the umbrella's chairman to check the contents of FM's will and his willingness to help our government and our people. I am totally loyal to our people's interest through you and word may get to you from other sources that I am in touch with "loyalists." I need you to know what it is I am doing.

Third, you are scheduled to take your second state visit to the US next month. Some of our information may have impact on that visit. At the very least, you are appraised of what we have gathered to fathom any subtle messages that the US officials may send to you. At most, we may be able to put together enough conclusive data to allow you to bring the matter up to President Bush, if not in November at some other opportune moment.

What do we have as far as the recovery of FM's ill-gotten wealth? A few hundred million dollars from deals with overt FM cronies the sale of some identified FM assets (buildings, paintings, and other properties) and court cases here, in Switzerland, and in the United States.

Lately, there are those who propose a "master settlement" approach, meaning one negotiation with possibly IRM or the representatives FM. This "master settlement" may involve the return of FM's remains and/or some of his exiled relatives and henchmen. I agree with these conditions should be rejected at the moment for national security reasons. Also, one negotiation will not work because those that propose it are at best making "educated guesses" about the amount of the ill-gotten wealth that is the basis for negotiation. The PCGG has even recently proposed, holding public discussion groups to try to get more inforwhation on the whereabouts of the wealth and amounts involved.

Lastly, it is doubtful that IRM or any one of the FM heirs would know all or even most of his wealth much less make a full disclosure of what little they may know during these negotiations. A "master settlement" on the wealth by those that propose it presently may not result in a fair deal for our government

On the other hand, negotiated settlements on a case to case basis based on more precise intelligence inforwhation and with the cooperation of the principals involved (the trustees, banks/depositors) in a given case or account may lead to faster and fairer results for our government The ex-FM operatives we are talking to are not politically motivated and place no political pre-conditions (e.g. the return of FM's remains or relatives) on assisting us.

Even if a fraction of what we have uncovered is true, moving on it correctly and recovering some of it for our people could alter the course of our history.

VII. Proposed Courses of Action and Vital Considerations

1. Agree to a detailed presentation only to you or what we have uncovered to date.

2. Allow us to continue the project to pinpoint concrete action proposals for your approval.

In this regard, a reporting/feed back mechanism directly to you must be set up. Some funding support is also needed even at this preparatory stage.

3. The concrete action proposals will probably take the form of proposed negotiated settlements with the parties involved aimed at recovering FM's share for our government and our people. Each negotiated settlement will be different in nature. Some may even be on a country to country basis, requiring your direct intervention ( e.g. the US and some of the Asian countries). Most will be between specific banks, trustees, and signatories and our government. I will detail some possible negotiated settlement formulas when we get to meet

4. There are some action proposals that can be done here immediately like the Central Bank gold and the PNB/CB sale proceeds and commissions outlined earlier. Due to the sensitive nature of these actions and the possible involvement of senior officials of this and the previous government, I propose we discuss this in private.

5. On the local front, some of the trustees/owners/caretakers of the gold already discovered but stored here in our country have come to me to explore the possibilities of negotiated settlements. Initially, some 3,000 MT of gold has been offered. I have been told, if this succeeds, there is much more. I have asked that they bring me proof positive -- gold bars to show you and a visit by me to the site of the gold stockpile -- before I bring this whatter up to you for your consideration.

6. In all negotiated settlements, we must exact a commitment and activate a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the monies released to parties other than our government are not used to destabilize our government

7. Trust is a vital dimension to this undertaking! Our newfound "partners" -- the FM trustees, signatories, and caretakers have placed their trust in this government through me and you -- whom they believe I report to directly. Some of them have had "sad experiences" with others in our government, the details of which I would rather discuss privately. I ask in turn for your continued trust and guidance without which we cannot proceed with this task nor hope to succeed. Greater men than I have risked their names and reputations on parts of this puzzle -- some have failed, others have had dubious interests at heart. I find myself in a situation where I must try to see this through its conclusions -- because success means a better life for all of us.

CONRADO A. LIMCAOCO, JR.


NOTE- The small stocks being referred to here by Mr. Limcaoco are actually the so-called unrecorded accounts of Imelda and FM's children. I was earlier told by one trustee that some of these smaller stocks were a part of Mrs-Marcos' compromise deal with the US. Government, in exchange for her acquittal in the New York court.

The photocopy of Mr. Limcaoco's letter to Pres. Cory Aquino was given to me by a RAM officer who is now living, in the U.S.A. and had a role to play among Col. Red Kapunan's group who took over Channel 4 at the height of the 1989 RAM-SFP-YOU coup d'etat. Some concerned citizens at hotel coffee shops have circulated other similar photocopies.

Even the defunct Newsday dated February 27, 1990 printed the same.

Limcaoco's Gold Recovery Program had successfully controlled the part of the Marcos gold specifically that taken from the Napindan Channel. This was the very reason why the Yellow Army particularly saw to it that Channel 4 should be the first target area to recover. The barricades erected surrounding the TV station's perimeter were dismantled only after "the loot" had been successfully brought out and transferred to "safer" ground. Thus, the persuasion flight of the U. S. Phantom Jet.

At this point, I would like to reiterate the misconception that the Marcos gold was the Yamashita treasure. The mere mention of Sta. Romana's name and other long existing gold accounts as having never been moved until the time Marcos gained control over them, including those at Fort Knox, strongly confirms that the Marcos gold had been successfully amassed from different sources.


`LOSS WEIGHT NOW!

Read More

FERDINAND MARCOS 100BILLION DOLLAR GOLD CONTRACT

page contents

APPENDIX 6.13 


Reproduced below is chapter 31 in its entirety extracted from the Marcos Legacy Revisited subtitled: Raiders of the Lost Gold, by Erick A. San Juan, published in 1998 in Makati City, Philippines.   My thanks to "Dirk" for providing this. 


Of interest is the sloppy prose style and typographical errors that closely correspond to the "mistakes" contained on all of Peter Johnston's gold bullion certificates - perhaps indicating that this, also,  was written with "deniability" in mind?   






CHAPTER 31


The Trilateral Commission's Aborted Deal with FM


The aborted deal of the CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL with the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (better known as the Trilateral Commission) involved an agreement in which the president was promised power for life and a guarantee of an Investment Loan to be coursed through a Mini-Marshall plan to save the failing Philippine economy. All these in exchange for his gold bullion.


The original document showing specifically how much gold Marcos kept at Fort Knox was given to me by an emissary of President Marcos which I handed, in trust, to Reynaldo Fajardo, who was supposed to write a book on this. This was the very same document brought by Ambassador Philip Habib to Manila in February 1986 for Marcos' signature. Marcos, however, didn't sign the document because THE CORPORATION wanted the gold bullion for themselves alone and merely offered to give him an investment loan in exchange. Soon after, through Cardinal Jaime Sin's call for people support, and armed with "Plan C," employing the Marxist principle "Religion is the opium of society." EDSA People Power came to the fore. This marked the beginning of Marcos' downfall.


A photocopy of these records was passed on to me by my friend, Col. Adex Villalon (RES). Had Marcos known of an impending conflict between the Philippine Government and his family, he could have immediately signed Habib's document and could have lived happily ever after.


The following is the text of the Trilateral Commission's communique with the late president Ferdinand Marcos under the letterhead, THE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL, brought by then U.S. Ambassador Philip Habib for F.M.'s approval and subsequent signature. The deal turned sour because the CORPORATION wanted to get everything, simply leaving Marcos a so-called investment loan out of his total gold hoard. On my visits to Hawaii, Marcos made it clear to me that he did not sign the document because, in his own words "para akong pinirito sa sarili kong mantika" (I would have been fried in my own lard). He further added that he had all those years, invested so much of his time, expertise, strategies, and a lot of guts, just to safeguard all the wealth which he intended to offer his countrymen's future and that of our children's children. This was also the reason why he was forced to leave Malacanang to regroup in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, but instead, he claimed to have been kidnapped, taken by force and against his will by the Americans and flown to Hawaii.


NOTE: The photocopy clearly displayed the entire logo of THE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL, with the words "CLOAKED WITH SECRECY" stamped on every page, together with the following details on each page's right-hand margin:


FIFTH AVENUE AT 55TH STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10022
212 753 4500


LANCASTERGATE - HYDEPARK - LONDONW23NZ
Telephone: 61-2525090 Telex: 291655 Prestel 3441100


WEINSERGSTRASSE 45, CH-8008 ZURICH




The Corporation International


TO: GM13CO
RE: TRANSACTION OF 62,321 MT


YOU ARE NOW PURSUING AS CODED SELLER, WE HEREBY GUARANTEE THAT YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SAID TRANSACTION, UPON ITS SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IS 1/4% OF 1%. WE SHALL MAKE ALL PAYMENTS MADE TO YOUR ACCOUNT TO ANY BANK OF YOUR CHOICE, AT YOUR INSTRUCTION.


Makati, Philippines, February 21,1986


PN15182541/ OR 12241942/ AA (BBRP) ABLL1


ATTESTED:
(signature unidentified)
"301/RVH/301STCO/S18/69/66"


TO: 1135PACER


IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF 62,321 METRIC TONS, PURSUED BY GM13CO, WE HEREBY GUARANTEE THAT YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SAID TRANSACTION, UPON ITS SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IS 1/4% OF 1%. WE SHALL MAKE ALL PAYMENTS MADE TO YOUR ACCOUNT TO ANY BANK OF YOUR CHOICE AT YOUR INSTRUCTION.


Makati, Philippines, February 21, 1986.


PN15182541/ OR 12241942/ AA (BBRP) ABLL1B


ATTESTED:
(signature unidentified)
301/RVH/301STCO/S18/69/66


THE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL


C O N F I D E N T I A L


REQUEST ATTENTION TO:
____________________
____________________ THRU:


1. THE CODED PRIVATE SELLER OF SCATTERED GOLD BARS IN THE PHILIPPINES


INVESTMENT LOANS:


SUCCESFULLY AND DISCREETLY LOANS ARRANGED FROM 1980 TO 1985 INCLUSIVE WITH 216 PRIME LEAD BANKS BY PN-1518254 AND HIS 25 SECRET GROUPS: WITH PARTICIPATIONS OF CODED GROUPS FROM USA AND EUROPE.


SUBJECT :


READINESS AND AVAILABILITY AND BLOCKED U.S. DLRS 100 BILLION, OR U.S. DLRS 150-BILLION INITIALLY AS INVESTMENT LOANS OFFERED TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT THRU THE CODED PRIVATE SELLER OF THESE 62,321 METRIC TONS OF GOLD BARS OR MORE.


THESE USDLRS BILLION FUNDS AS INVESTMENT LOANS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED-NEGOTIATED SINCE 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 WITH USDLRS 600-BILLION CAN BE REACTIVATED WITH 1,000 PRIME BANKS IN THE U.S.A. AND EUROPE WITHIN 20 DAYS FROM ACCEPTANCE AND REPAYABLE WITH 62,321 METRIC TONS OR MORE OF THESE GOLD BARS OF RECORDED 999.9% PURITY OF DIFFERENT SIZES OR DENOMINATIONS OWNED AND POSSESSED BY PHILIPPINES/ CODED PRIVATE SELLER IN THE PHILIPPINES.


C O N F I D E N T I A L


1) 62,321 METRIC TONS OF GOLD BARS IN THE PHILIPPINES, ETC.


Hereunder in simple words are the facts and events in a nutshell to which we adhered and by reasons of which, we, thru the code 'U.S.A.D.T' the World-Sole-Financially Established lenders-buyers and the European Lenders-Buyers, have both recognized without any reservation, the rights, possession, ownership and disposition of these gold bars with recorded 999.9% purity of different sizes and denominations of your/Philippines and for which we agree, as we have agreed to give INVESTMENT LOANS repayable with these gold bars in the Philippines, vice-versa.


2) IN THE PHILIPPINES


These 62,321 Metric Tons or more of gold bars are in the Philippines, but secretly, per our calculations only about 43,200 Metric Tons of these gold bars had been found and excavated from 1972 to 1980, the other 20,000 Metric Tons, or more, are still to be located and 'excavated' (?), or already very secretly-shrewdly in the hands of some retired/active Generals (?) and/or private Hunters-Priests, alike.


3) READINESS OF UNLIMITED USDLRS-BILLION FUNDS AS INVESTMENT LOANS: PHILIPPINES IN CRISIS


The Philippines is in a sort of serious political and economic crisis. Every and all bankers in the world are refusing to give financial aids and no more foreign banks and foreign institutions would lend money to the Philippine Government due to its huge unpaid external debts, and the only salvation as we believe and know pretty clear are these gold bars of the coded seller thru 'Authority' under the principle of 'Pares Patria' thru, the initial USDLRS IOO-Billion and up to USDLRS 150-Billion which had long been blocked and ready since December 2, 1985 and the USDLRS 600-Billion can be easily reactivated by fiduciary-principals of ours, thru code: "U.S.A.D.T." and the European groups with its 1,000 prime banks within 20 days, more or less, if these offers are accepted. And all these U.S. BILLION FUNDS are all for INVESTMENT LOANS for the Philippine/coded seller and repayable with all these 62,321 Metric Tons, or more, of gold bars of any size or denomination with 999.9% purity.


4) BEGINNING OF NEGOTIATIONS ABROAD WHOEVER THE CODED PRIVATE SELLER


Therefore Sir, with much due respect to the private coded seller authorized for these huge transactions in connection with these scattered gold bars of different sizes in the Philippines 999.9% purity and 24 carat - we wish you to know, thru the undersigned coded Chairman of the Confidential Committee, in order these highly classified messages may eventually reach the coded seller of these 62,321 or more Metric Tons of gold bars with different sizes or denominations that initially USDLRS 100-Billion or USDLRS 150-Billion as Investment-Loans have long been readied and blocked and can be reactivated within a very reasonable time. To be repetitious, all these INVESTMENT LOANS as cited above, initially USDLRS 100-Billion have had already been readied and blocked since December 2, 1985 up to the present with 1,000 prime banks in the USA continents and in some 500 primebanks in the European countries---with USDLRS 600 Billion or more can be reactivated within 20 days or more, are all for direct INVESTMENT LOANS to the Philippines/coded seller who is naturally under the 'Pares Patria' of the President of the Philippines and which are repayable in 24 hours only with these 62,321 Metric Tons or more of gold bars of different sizes and denominations and with 999.9% purity. These USDLRS BILLION DOLLARS can be verified on bank-to-bank levels only.


5) MAN CODED PNI518254 AND HIS SECRET GROUPS INTERNAL AND ABROAD


If only to help the Philippines and his countrymen thru his beloved President to secure the unlimited U.S. Billion Dollars as Investment loans and overcome the political and economic uncertainties of the Philippines, this coded man, PN1518254 or code '12241942/AA (BBRP) ABLLIB' had resigned from his gainful banking-finance-law practices giving up his retainership of 43 private corporations and even went to the extent of, at the great sacrifice of his family and relatives of encumbering his properties some of which have already been forfeited and spending with his groups both foreign and local to the tune of more than 315,000 dollars had worked and still is working very hard with HIS AFORESAID GROUPS TO TIGHTLY HOLD ON THESE 8,000 foreign banks and to successfully secure these unlimited U.S. Billion Dollars as Investment Loan, all repayable with these gold bars in the Philippines.






6) OUR FOREIGN FIDUCIARY PRINCIPALS' REQUIREMENTS


Therefore, thru our foreign fiduciary principals-lenders-buyers, we request the following:


1. Ocular inspection of all these (Physical stocks) gold bars in the Philippines or elsewhere abroad by PN1518254 soonest with coded 'U.S.A.D.T.' representative and the certification of availability and genuineness of aforesaid gold bars from the International Prime Trust bank of seller on the deposit of these gold bars or two hard copies authorization from the President of the Philippines or his authorized Minister confirming the availability of these gold bars about 62,321 Metric Tons or more of any sizes and purity of 999.5% or 999.9% and the readiness and willingness to accept our Investment Loan offers which are all repayable with these aforesaid gold bars and after assay and determination of the genuineness of gold bars of the U.S.A.D.T./USA and the European Legitimate Lenders-Buyers, will pay thru coded sellers' prime banks, or on any suggested procedures from coded authorized seller/ Philippine coded Authority that can be mutually agreed upon.


2. These U.S.A.D.T./LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS from the USA, together with the European groups, shall always be FLEXIBLE and UNDERSTANDING to the secret requirements of the Authority/ Coded Private Seller, knowing these huge transactions have to partake of a very PRIVATE TRANSACTION IN NATURE.


3. All incentives and commissions are deducted at source with international tariff of 10% and incentives of 7% less 2% for PN1518524/Foreign Groups/Local VIPS/GROUPS.


4. That our U.S.A.D.T. Lenders-Buyers groups in the USA will pay CASH ONE THIRD of the total prices based on the London Second Fix of all these gold bars of any sizes, minus/less above international Tariff 10% and 7% commissions deducted at source, with remaining balance corresponding to the prices of all these gold bars, shall be paid depending on the "WISHES" of the coded Seller assigned for this purpose.


7) MECHANICS OF USDLRS-BILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT LOANS FOR THE PHILIPPINES


The mechanics of these unlimited USDLRS-BILLION DOLLARS as INVESTMENT LOANS are as follows:


1. Since these huge confidential transactions involving USDLRS 983 Billion which are "perhaps" the actual price of these gold bars in the Philippines, which price is based on London Second Fix, less the ten (10%) percent tariff for rebaring, recasting and reassaying deductible for every release of these USDLRS-BILLION funds as INVESTMENT LOANS and less further the seven (7%) percent as incentives and tax sales abroad (to 7% less 2% for codes LOCAL VIPS/ GROUPS AND PN1518524 and 1,000 to 2,000 members groups)--- are purely private transactions --- and no world financing agencies will ever know any of these huge transactions, except the coded private seller and the confidential Philippine AUTHORITY.


2. It will appear in all banks documentation of these coded "U.S.A.D.T." LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS from the USA, as well as from the EUROPEAN LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS - the former represented by the private company while the latter is represented also by private company, respectively, that all these initial USDLRS100-Billion or more will appear exactly as 'VOLUNTARY INVESTMENT LOANS' to coded seller for "PHILIPPINE AUTHORITY" and for that reason, as if an, repeat as if an, INVESTMENT LOANS AGREEMENT shall be signed at the office of the Philippine President, when in truth, it is the acceptance of these US-HUNDREDS BILLION DOLLARS FUNDS very secretly and the simultaneous turn-over to our two groups of all those gold bar's with 999.9% purity.


3. And behind these INVESTMENT LOANS --- for the reasons the initial USDLRS 100-Billion or initial USDLRS 150-Billion as irrevocably certified by our 10 to 40 lead prime international banks and these funds are good as CASH - thus there will only be two permanent and exclusive contracts to be signed with the coded private seller under the umbrella of "Code1 " of the Philippines in favor of our two world most financially established democratic lenders-buyers groups, i. e. the U.S.A.D.T / LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS from the USA and the EUROPEAN GROUPS, and which contracts shall be signed in the physical presence of that "Authority" of the Philippines, at Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines:


4. Simultaneously, within 10 days, after such agreements and acceptance of the Initial USDLRS-100 Billion, or USDLRS 150-Billion, with our licensed international assayers of these two world most established Financial coded groups, as buyers-lenders shall proceed to personally conduct the assaying of all the physical stocks of these gold bars which may last up to May 30, 1986; thereafter, these physical stocks of gold bars, if found genuine, the coded "U.S.A.D.T." LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS will immediately issue so-called Certified funds from International Prime Banks for the balance.


8) ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE BY THESE TWO LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS


The U.S.A.D.T world most established Financial Legitimate moneyed groups from the USA thru its front company and with the EUROPEAN LENDERS-BUYERS GROUPS thru its front-company hereby mutually, thru the undersigned committee Chairman, has IRREVOCABLY, UNEQUIVOCALLY AND ABSOLUTELY guaranteed that the private coded seller and his "AUTHORITY" of the Philippines shall be free and exempt from any civil or criminal liability or international suits that may arise in connection with these gold bars transactions which these two most financially established groups are buying with the processes and mechanics of so-called "INVESTMENT LOANS AGREEMENTS"; and the undersigned members and chairman of the finance confidential committee of these USADT-LENDERS-BUYERS from the USA and the EUROPEAN-LENDERS-BUYERS will all do the hauling and transporting of all these gold bars very quietly at their expense without any obligations whatsoever from private coded seller and his "Authority" after the assay are finished up to May 1986, through the U.S.A. 90,000 deadweight tons Aircraft Carrier in one or two shipments only and very confidentially. Further whatever PENDING CASES this coded seller or his "AUTHORITY" has filed against them with the International Court of Justice or International Forum, these two word most established financial and moneyed groups through the undersigned members and chairman of the Finance Committee shall be answerable and responsible and hereby, these coded world's group assume any and all obligations unconditionally and responsibility thereto.


9) FINAL OFFER AND CONCLUSION


The acceptance of these USDLRS 600-Billion up to USDLRS 983-Billion, with initial USDLRS 100-Billion and/or USDLRS150-Billion already BLOCKED since December 2, 1984 and November 7, 1985 as INVESTMENT LOANS, and all repayable very secretly and CONFIDENTIALLY with all these gold bars in the Philippines of about 62,321 Metric Tons or more with 999.9% purity --- the first and primary "contact" to be made by said "AUTHORITY" /coded private seller (thru its seller's international bank) should be coursed first its acceptance of these UNLIMITED-US-BILLION DOLLARS as Investment Loans to the same man coded as PN1518254 or "12241942/ AA (BBRP) ABLLIB" and with coded seller will know where to immediately "contact" this PN1518254.


With the foregoing facts and events and more practically our aforesaid adherence and firmed and complete recognition of the Philippines' rights, possession, ownership and disposition of all those gold bars, we, thru the coded "U.S.A.D.T." MONEYED-LENDERS-BUYERS from the USA and with the European lenders-buyers groups, ---now wish to call the special attention of:


10) CODED SELLER THRU HIS "AUTHORITY" CONCERNED


On these "INVESTMENT LOANS" long negotiated and finally arranged from 1980 to 1984 inclusive with 216 foreign prime banks by the man coded as PN1518254 or "12241942 (BBRP)ABBLIB" and his groups, with the principal participations of Foreign groups (USA) and the European groups.


Consequently, the READINESS and AVAILABILITY of all these UNLIMITED US-BILLION DOLLARS as INVESTMENT LOANS cited above are all blocked since December 2, 1985 exclusively intended for the Philippine' coded seller repayable with these 62,321 Metric Tons of gold bars, or more, in the Philippines. And with these huge sums as INVESTMENT LOANS are still intact, "frozen" so to say with the 3,000 prime banks in the USA and in 500 prime banks in the European continents earning nothing since December 2, 1985 up to the present while other end users /countries in the world are all in bad need of these "BLOCKED-US BILLION DOLLARS."


These two-world-moneyed groups thru the undersigned had agreed with coded seller that all these gold bars transactions should be treated as very PRIVATE IN NATURE and no involvement of any public officials nor Philippine embassies abroad, and we shall always be FLEXIBLE, UNDERSTANDING and SYMPATHETIC to the "requirements" of the Philippine "coded seller." And finally, with the successful and confidential conclusion of this transaction, it becomes necessary immediately to convert the present Central Bank Minting facilities to an internationally accepted gold bullion refinery, either as subsidiaries of world renown minting firms such as the Johnson Mathey, National Mint or the likes or as separate private company under the Trilateral supervision.


Now, it's up to YOU, SIR, to make the 54 Million Filipino people happy and economically and industrually stable and solid with these UNLIMITED BILLION USDLRS INVESTMENT LOANS repayable with these 62,321 Metric Tons of gold bars or more in your country. Don't wait for others to claim this IMMORTAL CREDIT. Kindly do it while you are in your solid possession and right and you alone can do it and alone can claim immortal glory as the greatest man in Asia.




Yours very respectfully,
"PN1518254 /OR 12241942 /AA (BBRP)ABBLIB"


(unidentified signature)
"301 /RVH /301STCO /S18 /69 /66"
THE "U.S.A.D.T." GROUPS OR LENDERS-BUYERS/ USA AND THE EUROPEAN GROUPS OF LENDERS-BUYERS thru (Confidential Finance Committee Members)


(unidentified signature)
Authorized Signature
Coded Chairman, World's Coded Finance Committee

Read More

page contents

Marcos’ Missing Millions

This article was written by LUCY KOMISAR published in "in these times" Aug. 2002

Corporate corruption scandals roil the United States, dragging down with them the reputations of the major accounting firms that signed off on—or even designed—fraudulent financial practices. These global auditors were supposed to keep corporations honest. But a closer look at Switzerland, the birthplace of financial legerdemain, shows that accounting deceit is nothing new. Western financial managers cut their teeth designing systems for Third World dictators to loot their countries.


Perhaps the most notorious example is Ferdinand Marcos, who is suspected of stealing at least $10 billion from the Philippines before being overthrown in February 1986. The Philippine government has spent more than 15 years trying to track and recover the money, some of which was secreted away by Swiss bankers and stashed in offshore havens.


Now, a former attorney with accounting firm KPMG in Zurich has come forward claiming she has evidence that on March 23, 1986—just a day before a freeze would be placed on Marcos’ accounts—KPMG secretly transferred $400 million from Credit Suisse Zurich to a Liechtenstein trust on the ex-dictator’s behalf.


The attorney, Marie-Gabrielle Koller—named in this article for the first time—first testified about the events behind closed doors before a French parliamentary commission in May 2000. Its report referred to her only as “Madame Z.” Last year, the Quebec native sent her information to U.S. authorities, but elicited no interest from Washington. Now Koller, 46, has privately offered to provide evidence to the Philippine government in exchange for a cut of the amount recovered. With interest, the hidden $400 million would be worth twice as much today.


Koller didn’t join KPMG until 1996, when she was assigned to the Credit Suisse account—a decade after the Marcos government fell. She learned of the midnight Marcos money-laundering operation from a colleague that year, after a Zurich court ordered the transfer to the Philippines of another account—originally worth $356 million—frozen in Switzerland since 1986.


That money had been held on the basis of documents found in the Presidential Palace days after Marcos fled to Honolulu in February 1986. But there were no documents about the $400 million. Bank officials had been warned that the Swiss Banking Commission, bowing to international pressure, was about to freeze all suspected Marcos accounts.


So, in the dead of night on March 23, 1986, lawyers for KPMG (then known as Fides, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse) moved the $400 million in Marcos funds to a Liechtenstein trust, Limag Management und Verwaltungs AG—which dispersed the money via new secret “foundations” (in German, anstalts). Limag AG was headed by Peter Sprenger, also the director of Liechtenstein’s Credit Suisse Trust AG and parliamentary leader of the Vaterlandische (Fatherland) Union, one of Liechtenstein’s conservative main parties.


Europeans joke that Liechtenstein is where Swiss bankers go to hide their money. The tiny country, just 72 miles east of Zurich, is the place where the Swiss send their dirtiest customers. Liechtenstein has gotten rich by laundering the money of drug traffickers, Mafiosi, tax cheats and other criminals. A 1999 report from the German secret service described Liechtenstein as a criminal state in the middle of Europe. The German finance minister denounced the country as “a worm in the European fruit.”


Indeed, when clients wanted to transact “sensitive” business, KPMG referred them to associates in Liechtenstein—with the assurance of added secrecy and protection from foreign law enforcement inquiries. Koller says even Liechtenstein was initially “unhappy” with Marcos’ money being transferred there, but Limag resolved the problems by giving a well-paid board chairmanship to Prince Constantin, the elderly uncle of constitutional monarch Prince Hans-Adam II.


“The bank bought the Prince’s uncle,” Koller explained to the French parliamentary commission that was investigating money-laundering in Switzerland. “Everybody is bought in Liechtenstein.”


———————


In 1997, Koller was fired by the manager of KPMG Zurich (which had been made independent of Credit Suisse—at least officially—so that it could continue as its auditor under new accounting regulations). She was sacked after testifying against a Credit Suisse Trust AG client who was involved in a conspiracy to sell tainted blood forcibly taken from prisoners by the Stasi, the East German secret police.


In addition, Koller believes she was fired because Credit Suisse realized that she—like other KPMG and bank employees— knew what happened to the Marcos money. She told the French inquiry: “My superior told me … that I would never work again as a lawyer and that my career was finished in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein because I had spoken to the authorities. “


Last year Koller approached the Justice Department via Virginia lawyer David Smith, a former associate director of the Asset Forfeiture Office. There was no response from the Justice Department’s anti-money laundering division or from the FBI. Both offices declined to comment for this story.


So in February, Koller anonymously approached the Philippine government through her attorney, Ian M. Comisky of high-powered Philadelphia law firm Blank, Rome, Comisky & McCauley, which has close ties to the Bush administration.


In his letter, Comisky wrote, “KPMG-Fides and Limag AG employees made admissions regarding the transfer of the Marcos monies to Liechtenstein, and our client has contemporaneous memoranda prepared at the time of the admissions.”


The letter, obtained by In These Times, also notes that Credit Suisse financial statements did not reveal its relationship to Limag AG—though Credit Suisse Trust AG and Limag AG share an address in Vaduz, Liechtenstein’s capital.


In exchange for the documents, Comisky asked that his client receive $125,000 up front and then another $100,000 plus 2 percent of the amount recovered. Given Switzerland’s banking-secrecy laws, and KPMG’s past record, Koller is also asking that the Philippine government pay the costs of any litigation arising from her cooperation with it. And she wants a “compulsion order,” so that she will have a defense against Swiss and Liechtenstein banking secrecy laws that punish whistleblowers with fines or jail.


Comisky’s letter was first made public by Philippine Inquirer reporter Donna S. Cueto in May. But Cueto did not name Koller, whose name was never mentioned in the letter. Koller denied in an e-mail to In These Times that she was the secret witness. However, a staff member of the French National Assembly arranged a contact with an intermediary who named Koller as “Madame Z” (an identification also supported by several other sources). Comisky did not dispute that she was his client, but declined to discuss the case.


Peter Herzog of KPMG denies Koller’s claims, saying, “KPMG has never been involved in any action regarding the Marcos affairs.” Martin Somogyi, a spokesman for Credit Suisse, said in a written statement: “Credit Suisse cooperated fully and transparently with the Swiss authorities as regards this matter. In 1986, we supplied full details of the Marcos family accounts to the Swiss authorities, who then forwarded this information to the Philippine authorities. All of the Marcos family’s funds were frozen in 1986, and movements of funds prior to the freeze were also reversed and frozen. All of the blocked funds in Switzerland were transferred in 1997 to a blocked account in the Philippines.”


———————


But claims that more accounts exist come from an unusual source. In 1998, Marcos’ loquacious widow Imelda gave an interview to The Associated Press and AFP in which she declared that, “There is more Marcos wealth that this government is not yet aware of, but for the time being I can admit that there is only $800 million in various international banks.”


While the Philippine Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), has been struggling for years to track down the missing millions, in late June, Haydee Yorac, chairwoman of the PCGG, declined Koller’s proposition to pay her $225,000 plus 2 percent of the amount recovered. However, she indicated interest in talking with Koller and having her provide assistance, with reward based on the value of the help.


“The letter doesn’t really contain much by way of information,” explains Ruben Carranza, who’s in charge of litigation and research for the PCGG, adding that Comisky has not yet replied.


One might expect the Swiss government, now under increased pressure to combat its reputation as a protector of criminal money-laundering, to undertake a serious investigation. But Koller knows better. “In my experience the authorities have no interest in fighting any form of organized crime,” she told In These Times via e-mail. “Or at least that interest stops where competing financial interests begin.

Read More

MARCOS GOLD BULLIONS AND SECRET DEALS

page contents

The issue of Marcos' gold has hit the headlines since Atty. Robert Swift submitted during an LA Court hearing last 29 September 1997 documents on two incidents of Marcos gold transfers, their sale and subsequent deposit in other secret accounts reportedly done by Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last June-July and June 1997 amounting to $466 million and $23 million, respectively.

Upon submission of documents and cross-examination of witnesses presented by human rights lawyer, Atty. Robert Swift, to the LA Court, Judge Manuel Real issued a preliminary injunction to prohibit the movement and transfer of reported Marcos gold, certificates and money in the banks cited in the documents.

The details regarding these transfers were reportedly contained in a letter by Reiner Jacobi on August 8, 1997 to President Ramos which the latter admitted having received and endorsed subsequently to the PCGC for action.

The secret transfer of Marcos gold was initiated by the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) as early as 1986.

The first Transfer: 1.1 million troy ounces of gold

• 1986: the first transfer involved 1.1 million troy ounces of gold (30+ tons) which were deposited in five separate banks.
• 1993: these were sold and the proceeds of this sale were deposited in the Swiss Bank Corporation (SUC).
• In June-July 1997 the money was transferred from the SBC to the Bank Julius Baer (BJB) totaling $466 million.
• The $466 million was deposited in a corporate account of the PNOC, allegedly by a certain Enrique (as verified by Robert Swift) Vasquez on 30 June.
• On 10 July, the proceeds were transferred to another account, the Marcan Account, Inc. in the same bank (BJB). Among the directors of Marcan, Inc. were a Mr. Castro and a Mr. N. Vasquez, according to the Jacobi letter to the President.
• On 16 July, PCGG Chair Gunigundo was said to have met Reiner Jacobi. It was discussed that alleged friends of President Ramos opened two accounts at a Swiss bank where at least $466 million of the laundered Marcos gold proceeds were also deposited (PDI 9 October 1997).
• In the same meeting, Gunigundo seemed shocked over the fact that money was being laundered behind his back ("Oh my God, they have done a deal behind my back", he said). Jacobi claims he taped the conversation with Gunigundo (PDI 9 Oct. 1997).

The second transfer: two tons of gold

• The second transaction involved two tons of gold worth $23 million which money was withdrawn from the Union Bank of Switzerland.
• June 12, 1997: According to Jacobi, Rothschild and Sons based in Zurich bought one ton of the Marcos gold from UBS on this day. (PDI 10 Oct. 1997)
• June 12, 1997: Acting on behalf of UBS, Citibank Zurich also sold a ton of gold to Sun Hung Kuf, a licensed gold dealer based in HK. (PDI 10 Oct 1997)
• June 12-13, 1997: Proceeds from the sale of two tons of gold amounting to$23 million were deposited in the Standard Chattered Bank of HK, according to earlier reports.
• Despite the letters sent to Mr. Ramos aBout the laundering, Jacobi and his associate, Dr. David Chaikin, who served as his lawyer, did not receive any response from Manila.
• After waiting for a week and receiving information that the laundering still continued, Jacobi and Chaikin decided to terminate their work for the government in August of 1997.
• Jacobi and Chaikin contacted human rights claimants' lead counsel Robert Swifr and made available to him documentary evidence on the movements of the Marcos gold.
• On 5 September, 1997, the LA Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order on money transfers to the three banks involved: the UBS, the Bank Julius Baer and the Standard Chartered Bank of Hongkong. The TRO was to expire on 30 September.
• 29 September: A preliminary injunction was ordered by the LA Court on the two banks involved in the reported laundering, the Union Bank of Switzerlandand the Bank Julius Baer. Meanwhile, the Standard Chartered Bank of Hongkong agreed to extend the freeze order made earlier on 5 September by the LA Court to the period covered by the preliminary injunction.

Evidences Submitted to LA CourtAugust 18 Ritter Memo

• August 18, 1997 Peter Ritter Memo. Dr. Peter Ritter was the administrator of the Sandy foundation which handles the Marcos gold accounts. The Memo was submitted by Atty. Bob Swift to the LA Court.
• The Memo affirmed the laundering that was taking place and mentioned the presence of an account of the Philippine President in the Bank Julius Baer.
• Prior to the September 29 Hearing, Bob Swift sent a copy of the August 18 Ritter Inter-Office Memo to the office of Gen. Almonte, requesting the latter to comment on the document before its presentation to the court.
• The Philippine Government never responded to Swift's letter (it is standard operating procedure that government offices respond within a period of 16 days to official communications made to them). Instead, the government sent a copy of the Memo to its Philippine Ambassador in Berne who in turn, Magtanggol Gunigundo admitted in the Senate Hearings, gave this to the Swiss government who turned this over to the Swiss banks.
• By the time the 29 September Hearing took place in LA, after Bob Swift presented as evidence the August 18 Ritter Inter-Office Memo, a September 24 Ritter Memo was produced by the Swiss banks disowning the August 18 Memo.

September 24 Ritter Retraction

• Thus, the August 18 Ritter Memo was contested by the Swiss banks on the Sept. 29 hearing with a declaration allegedly from Ritter saying the Aug. 18 Memo was a forgery. (Signatures of Ritter in the August 18 Memo and Sept. 29 affidavit did not match).
• February 6, 1974 Marcos Letter of Authority to Peter Ritter as Administrator of Sandy Foundation
• On Feb. 6, 1974, Marcos appointed Ritter as administrator of Sandy Foundation (sometimes referred to as Anstalt). The agreement was executed in Lichtenstein, Switzerland by both Marcos and Ritter. Ritter's signature in the 1974 document bore the same slant (sloping to the right and a bit angular) as his signature in the August 18, 1997 Memo and a September 14 Memo. In both memos, the Sandy Foundation stationery was used, and the name underneath the signature was Dr. Peter Ritter-Jurus.

September 14, 1997 Ritter Memo

• The making and signing of the Sept. 14 Memo was witnessed by Anthony Silano, a witness for the human rights victims who testified in an LA court on Sept. 29 that he had seen the Marcos gold bullion.
• Ritter in this Memo said that since 1986 "there have been a number of sales of the precious metal, including the sale of two tons during 12-13 June 1997. As of 30 June 1997, the precious metal accounts totaled approximately 1,240 tons. This is separate from the substantial currency and securities accounts of Sandy Anstalt held at UBS, which is also beneficially owned by the Marcos family."

July/August Communications(Between Reiner Jacobi and CHR Magtanggol Gunigundo)

The July - August Wait

1. July 16, 1997. Meeting between Reiner Jacobi and Gunigundo in Manila. According to Jacobi, Gunigundo expressed shock that laundering of the Marcos money was going on in Bank Julius Baer among "friends" of President Ramos who opened two accounts where the $466 million was deposited. Gunigundo disclosed this laundering to Jacobi. "They have done a deal behind my back," Gunigundo allegedly told Jacobi re laundering.
2. According to Jacobi's August 8 letter to President Ramos, the money transfer was internal to the bank.
   1. On June 30, the $466 million was deposited in an account under the name of the PNOC at the Bank Julius Baer. The PNOC account was controlled by a "Nazaro Vasquez", Ill said, according to his sources within the Swiss banking system. When checked out by Robert Swift, the name he found was Enrique Vasquez.
   2. On July 10, 1997, the proceeds were transferred to an account in the name of a private company called Marcan, Inc. at the same bank (BJB). Among the directors of Marcan, Inc. were a Mr. Castro and a Mr. N. Vasquez, but the signatory to the account was a Mr. N. Vasquez.
   3. Gunigundo told Jacobi that he would relay this information (the 2 new accounts in BJB) to President Ramos when they meet on July 21.
   4. July 21 p.m. Gunigundo called up Jacobi at the EDSA Plaza Shangri-La Hotel. "Good news you'd be happy with the President's decision," MC told IM and the latter thought he would finally be paid as promised at the beginning of the Operation Domino.
   5. Jacobi went back to Australia. He waited for one week, July 22 to 29. He called up Gunigundo on July 29. Gunigundo said that President Ramos asked for one more week. Said President Ramos told him this before he gave his State of the Nation Address before Congress on July 28 over lunch. Jacobi waited for another week.
   6. August 5. Jacobi called Gunigundo up and latter answered: "Well, look, we need to verify this information." He asked for additional information and other documents and his voice sounded different.
   7. Jacobi got mad and refused to give more documents. Jacobi consulted his lawyer, Dr. David Chaikin, a former high official of the Australian government and an expert in extradition and in international mutual assistance.
   8. Chaikin advised Jacobi to write President Ramos that he would now have to proceed with the agenda he described earlier to President Ramos in his July 18 letter.

Jacobi's July 18, 1997 Letter to President Ramos

• When David Castro (former PCGG Chair) abandoned Jacobi in HK, he knew he had to defend himself against trumped up charges by the Marcoses. He had various periods of incarceration in 3 different countries for crimes he did not commit. (He was acquitted in charges made against him in both the Australian and HK courts. He was accused of economic espionage by the Swiss government who wanted him extradited from Germany, but this did not push through.)
• Suggested that the laundering activity of the Marcoses, which is a crime under U.S. law be exposed. A 10% reward is granted the individual who does the expose and this sum represents an amount only in excess of US $50 million.
• If above is not acceptable, Jacobi requested President Ramos for his own action agenda which should, however, include payment either in whole or in part for Jacobi's work. President Ramos did not respond to Jacobi's July 18 letter Jacobi's August 8, 1997 Letter to President Ramos
• Thinking that Gunigundo did not give the July 18 letter to President Ramos, Jacobi sent the August 8 letter directly to Malacanang. The following are part of the letter:

"The information that I have obtained has major national security implications. I am particularly concerned that the Chairman (Gunigundo) may not have given you the most sensitive information because of his strong belief that he must protect you at all costs. However, I firmly believe that you are entitled to receive this information as head of the Philippine Government."

Jacobi said he withheld any further documents to Gunigundo re the laundering activities to protect his sources and because of the continual watering down of his information by the Chairman. Jacobi gave President Ramos all the number here he could be reached. The President did not respond.

President Ramos' Response

• After the laundering was exposed in a Los Angeles court and in the international media, President Ramos first move was to ask Congress to set the parameters for a compromise agreement with the Marcoses. Then, he tried to discredit Jacobi saying the latter had a string of criminal cases.
• The cases referred to are connected with Jacobi's work with the Philippine Government in getting information on the Marcos gold deposits. Two courts, one in HK and one in Australia, cleared him up, particularly on the drug trafficking charge which was proven to be "wholly uncorroborated." Neither was he convicted of the economic espionage case filed in Switzerland (PIJI 9 Oct `97).

The December 28, 1993 CompromIse Agreement(Crosscurrents, Antonio T. Carpio, Manila Times, 10 October 1992)

• The Compromise Agreement consists of a General Agreement and two Supplemental Agreements all signed by Gunigundo and the Marcoses. These agreements are part of the pleadings filed over a year ago by the Marcoses with the Sandiganbayan in support of their petition seeking court approval of the compromise.
• The Supplemental Agreement dated July 1994 fixes a "starting" 25% share for the Marcoses. This 25% share "may be upwardly adjusted in favor of the Marcos family based on Their contribution to the joint recovery efforts.
• Since there is no ceiling on this upward adjustment, the Marcoses can even claim a 90% share on the ground that without their disclosure and cooperation, there can be no recovery of... the assets.
• The Compromise Agreement (CA) does not define clearly what constitutes the Marcos assets that will be shared between the Government and the Marcoses. The loose language used would allow the Marcoses to even demand
  1. share of assets already turned over to the Government, like the assets     surrendered by J.Y. Campos, Antonio Florendo, and Roberto Benedicto;
  2. assets already subject of court cases, like the San- Miguel and the UCPB shares.
• The CA does not provide for a minimum value of assets that the Marcoses must disclose before the compromise can take effect. The Marcoses can simply disclose what the PCGG already knows about the Marcos assets and claim full compliance with the disclosure requirement.
• The CA does not provide a time frame for disclosure of assets. The Marcoses can indefinitely delay the disclosure while the Government is locked into the CA unable to prosecute the civil and criminal cases.
• The CA commits the Government to drop all civil and criminal cases against the Marcoses. No time frame or condition precedent is stated before the Govt. is obliged to drop the cases. The Marcoses can demand immediate dismissal of the cases even before they make a frill disclosure of the assets.
• The CIA states that the Marcos share "shall be net of, and exempt from, any form of taxes." This is patently illegal since neither The Executive nor the Judicial Departments can exempt ay one from taxes.
• The CIA provides that "this Agreement settles all claims and counterclaims which the parties may have against one another, whether past, present, or future, matured or inchoate." This provision is void. The Civil Code provides that "any waiver of an action for future fraud is void." The Agreement seeks to grant the Marcoses immunity from any future fraud that they may commit against the Government.
• As pointed out by Antonio T. Carpio, in recommending the rejection of the CIA, the "ill-conceived, poorly drafted, sloppily executed and grossly one-sided (in favor of the Marcoses) compromise agreements will make The Ramos Administration the laughing stock of the Philippine legal and judicial community."
• In an earlier article written by Atty. Carpio in the same newspaper, he cited the fact that, aside from the objectionable compromise agreement, Chair Gunigundo was never given the authority by the president to negotiate with the Marcoses through an SPA (special power of attorney).
• Given the onerous provisions of the GA and given the fact That this was undertaken wiThout Presidential authority, Mr. Gunigundo evidently negotiated in bad faith, misrepresenting the government and deceiving both the government and the people. That he was given an SPA several months later by Malacanang to continue negotiating with the Marcoses has even raised more questions and objections to his continued stay as PCGG Chair.
• 
  

`sponsored by best weight loss program in the net

Read More