Al-Jazeera continues the investigation into the Philippine government’s attempts at reclaiming the trove of works previously owned by the Marcos family, some of which they believe have since been stolen from the family’s homes and are now in private collections.  “We’d like to think that these paintings have been with the Marcoses from the beginning, and we believe that they were purchased using ill-gotten wealth and public funds,” Presidential Commission on Good Government leader Andres Bautista says. (more…)

The Philippine government has seized 15 paintings, including works Monet and Van Gogh, from the former home of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, part of an official effort to secure a body of artworks from the politician’s accumulated wealth.  “The position of the government is this is part of ill-gotten wealth and should be returned to the government and the people,” says Andres Bautista, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government. (more…)

Vilma Bautista, the former secretary to Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, has been sentenced to two to six years in prison in New York for attempting to sell Impressionist masterpieces belonging to the Philippine government, which vanished when Marcos’s husband was overthrown.  Bautista will remain free on bail while her case is undergoes an appeal.  “The court agrees with the people, the evidence was overwhelming,” presiding Justice Renee A. White said. “But you never really know what the appellate division will do on any case.” (more…)