Former Manila mayor and now BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza disclosed the information following President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that the family of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos expressed willingness to give some of their wealth.
"When I was mayor, sinabi niya [Imelda] gusto kong ibalik 'yung gold dito, ibigay sa gobyerno para mapawi na lahat ng utang natin," he told reporters at a press conference.
"Sabi ko, why don't you do it? Sabi niya humahadlang ang isang superpower, hindi naman maigalaw ang gold. Nakadeposito sa maraming lugar sa buong mundo," he added.
Atienza said Marcos told him that the gold bars weighed 7,000 tons.
"Ilan ba ang estimate niyo sa gold na 'yan? Sabi niya ay 7,000 tons," he said.
"Seven thousand tons? Sana this time, makuha niya yung inaalok ni Mrs. Marcos nun. Kapag inaalok ngayon, ay mapakinabangan naman ng bansa ito," he added.
"Kunin na lang natin 'yung ginto at magamit ng Pilipinas dahil you can even imagine the value of those gold bars which they claim they have," he said.
"I announced it in light of all these developments, and we wish President Duterte all the best. Sayang naman ang perang 'yan. Thirty-one years have passed and wala man lang na-prosecute," he added.