The discovery of a probable Picasso in Imelda Marcos’ house during a visit by her son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, following his election victory has sparked a frenzy of suspicion in the Philippines, where the dynasty that once plundered billions is poised to return to power.
Marcos Jr., the late dictator’s son and namesake, earned a resounding win in Monday’s presidential election, shocking those who lived under his father’s rule.
The family posted photos of Marcos Jr visiting his mother, Imelda, who had hung a reproduction of Picasso’s Femme Couche VI (Reclining Woman VI) over the sofa.
It’s unclear whether the painting, which was one of eight seized by anti-corruption authorities in 2014, is genuine, but the unexpected appearance of a nude in blues and greens reclining on an orange and yellow bed has fueled fears that the family will use its newfound power to stifle efforts to recover ill-gotten gains.
During his 20-year reign, Marcos Sr presided over a slew of human rights violations, including the detention, torture, and assassination of his political opponents, and exploited his position to loot as much as $10 billion until being overthrown in 1986. The money was put into international bank accounts and real properties, and the family spent it on jewellery, artwork, and expensive clothes.
The dynasty’s matriarch, Imelda, became famous for her vast shoe collection, which served as a symbol of the family’s excess and avarice.
Since then, the Marcos family and its sympathisers have rebranded the Marcos name, with misinformation regarding Marcos Sr’s authority spreading extensively on the internet.
It’s questionable whether the picture is a real Picasso, according to Ruben Carranza, a former commissioner for the presidential commission on good governance (PCGG), which was established to investigate and reclaim ill-gotten money.
Mrs. Marcos has a practise of buying and lending false paintings for show, according to Carranza.
“The fact that she’s now showing it just indicates not just Mrs Marcos’ deceit – but that she feels compelled to flaunt the duplicity and extravagance that she believes she’s showcasing for Filipinos to see…” he continued. That adds insult to injury.”
“It demonstrates this truly, completely callous attitude toward Filipinos,” he continued. They’ve been persuaded to believe that [the Marcoses] have gold for a long time. Now they’re training children to believe that they have so much money that they can flaunt it anytime they want,” Carranza explained.
For years, there has been rumour on the internet that the Marcoses had vast quantities of gold that were provided to Marcos Sr as payment for working as their lawyer by a wealthy family.
If the family recovered control, the gold would be divided with the people, according to legend.
Marcos Jr. has either minimised or denied the injustices that took place in the Philippines under his father’s reign. As president, he would be able to nominate the PCGG commissioners, giving him enormous authority over the organisation tasked with recovering the family’s fortune.
According to recent sources, the PCGG has apparently recovered around $5 billion, with another $2.4 billion mired in litigation and more still missing.
