ORANGE, Calif. — A customs manifest obtained by the Philippine commission investigating deposed President Ferdinand Marcos describes in detail the fortune he fled with in cash and jewelry.
A copy of the detailed list, compiled after the arrival of the Marcos party’s in Honolulu on Feb. 26, was obtained by the Orange County Register from former Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, who now lives in California.
Alcaraz is helping the Philippine Commission on Good Government, headed by officials of Corazon Aquino’s government, to track assets held around the world by Marcos and his supporters.
In a copyright story, the newspaper said the 24-page document reads like a stock list for a posh jewelry store.
The records revealed Marcos fled with at least 70 pairs of bejeweled cuff links, including one pair valued at $149,575. The remaining cuff links were valued at slightly more than $20,000.
Louis Vuitton and Gucci suitcases carried 75 watches worth nearly $90,000. The timepieces ranged in value from a $12,000 gold-and-diamond watch by Piaget to a $50 Casio.
A brown alligator bag contained diamond, sapphire, and emerald jewelry and three tiaras valued at more than $135,000. The most expensive tiara, valued at $58,286, was encrusted with pearls and diamonds. The same bag also contained a “diamond-studded hair comb” valued at $44,410.
In another bag was a 20-carat diamond hair comb and earring set valued at $65,495.
In addition to the jewelry, the list itemizes neat packets of Philippine pesos worth more than $1 million stacked in attache cases and wooden crates, along with religious sculptures and handguns.
Rafael Fernando of Los Angeles, executive director of the overseas operation of the Philippine commission, told the Register the value of merchandise was assessed by customs officials.
Fernando said the commission obtained the list, dated March 10, 1986, from U.S. State Department officials, but spokesmen for U.S. Customs in Washington and Los Angeles said they were not sure if the list officially had been released to the public and would not confirm its contents.
The items were found aboard the U.S. Air Force jet that flew Marcos, his wife, daughter and more than 80 friends and personal staff members from Manila into Hawaiian exile after last year’s tainted national election and the leader’s subsequent fall from power.
