Philippines put Imelda jewels on display

Imelda Marcos

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The Philippines publically displays the jewels seized from former first lady Imelda Marcos twenty six years ago, in an attempt to draw new tourists to the country. 

As Maita Gonzaga, a senior official at the Presidential Commission on Good Government said, "They can attract tourists, (and) also (show) that there are certain lessons of the past that should not be forgotten. These are actual tangible evidence of plunder."

Imelda Marcos is the widow of Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country from 1965 to 1986, including nine years under martial law.

Imelda became the symbol of excess while the rest of the country suffered from poverty. Her huge collection of jewelry, which was allegedly bought with money stolen from the state, was part of her luxurious lifestyle. 

The collection, worth at least eight million dollars, is eventually set to be auctioned.