World IN BRIEF : PHILIPPINES : Gold-for-Marcos Swap Suggested

The body of former President Ferdinand Marcos should be allowed home in exchange for $5 billion Marcos allegedly stole from his nation and hid in Switzerland, a Manila official said. David Castro, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, said the gold could be used as evidence of wrongdoing by Marcos during his 20-year administration, which ended in a popular revolt in 1986. Castro’s commission is in charge of recovering wealth Marcos allegedly stole from the Philippine people. Castro has said that Marcos deposited 325 tons of gold at the Union Bank of Switzerland. The bank has denied the claim. Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989. Officials say Marcos’ body cannot be returned to his homeland for burial because “extremists” could create disturbances during the funeral.