Katrina Camille Pena of the Presidential Commission on Good Government holds a set of jewelry from the so-called Hawaii Collection, one of three sets of the Marcos Jewelry Collection, during appraisal by Sotheby’s at the Central Bank of the Philippines. (AP PHOTO)
Manila — A Philippine official said the government will launch a website next month to crowd-source tips on the whereabouts of some 200 missing art works, including paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Rembrandt that were owned by former first lady Imelda Marcos.
Commissioner Andrew de Castro of the Presidential Commission on Good Government said yesterday the commission wants to inform the public about the art treasures so they can help track them down.
Late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ family allegedly amassed billions of dollars’ worth of ill-gotten wealth, and his widow became known for excesses, symbolized by her huge shoe collection and staggering jewelry.
Experts yesterday were concluding an appraisal of the jewelry collection seized after the family fled to Hawaii in 1986 following a popular revolt that ended Marcos’ two-decade rule.