'EXPLORATORY TALKS' BETWEEN GOVT. AND IMELDA CAMP EYED

of international and local assets of the late President-turned dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Ricardo Abcede, PCGG commissioner for assets and management, said earlier he met with an "influential representative" of Imelda at a five-star hotel in Manila for dinner to discuss the possibility of a compromise. Abcede had said that the fabled wealth of Mrs Marcos is enough to pay the Philippines' huge national debt.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Malacanang Palace would not prevent the PCGG from negotiating an out-of-court settlement for the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses valued between US$10 billion and $100 billion.

But the compromise deal being cooked up by the PCGG with the Marcos family can include the dismissal of all criminal and civil cases against the latter.

Former Senate President and PCGG chairman Jovito Salonga has already written to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seeking to stop the talks with the Marcoses, saying there would be "shameful implications" if the Marcos deal pushes through.

Bunye, however, said the President would like to end the legal battle for the assets of the Marcoses. "We cannot let this issue fester for another 25 years. But let me stress that the agreement, if there will be any, will have to be satisfactory not only to the Supreme Court but for the Filipinos as well," he said.