This was disclosed by American lawyer Robert Swift, his counterpart Rod Domingo, partylist Rep. Loretta Ann ``Etta'' Rosales and former congressman Edcel Lagman in Malacañang after a meeting with the President and Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora.

The money represents about 30 percent of the $570 million Marcos Swiss bank accounts. The accounts have been deposited in escrow in the Philippine National Bank.

But Mr. Estrada said Thursday night that the victims of human rights abuses should receive more than 30 percent of the bank deposit as compensation. ``Let's make sure that the human rights victims can have a Merry Christmas.... The point is we will double the time, the effort to make sure this thing is served once and for all and the human rights victims can get their share,'' Rosales quoted the President as telling her after the meeting.

Swift, who said he was ``very pleased with the meeting,'' disclosed that his group explained the case to the President and aired its proposal on how to solve the long-running issue of dividing the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.

Domingo said Zamora ``took the initiative of starting the meeting with us'' and took them to an audience with the President.

Zamora had previous meetings with another group of claimants, led by lawyer Romeo Capulong and the National Democratic Front.

The President said at the Manila Overseas Press Club affair Thursday night that the reported offer of former first lady Imelda Marcos of $150 million for the victims was too small. But he said the government and the Marcos family were far from reaching an agreement.

Before his meeting with Swift's group, Mr. Estrada told Malacañang reporters that the government would pursue forfeiture cases against the Marcoses if they refuse to settle.

Swift said the Marcoses would never hear from the human rights victims again if they would pay the victims at least $171 million in compensation. ``It means that if Imelda pay up 30 percent or $171 million out of the $570 million escrow account, we will not attempt to collect anymore,'' Swift told the Inquirer.

Domingo said the class suit was ``not concerned about the criminal charges.'' ``It's like this. We are not concerned about the criminal charges. It's not the issue of--if you give us the $171 million, we will pursue the balance to complete the $2.5 billion--no,'' Domingo said.

While the Claimants 1081 fully agreed with Swift, the human rights victims belonging to the Samahan ng mga Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya led by Marie Hilao-Enriquez rejected Swift's position.

``What is important is that despite their denial, the Marcoses were found liable for the human rights violations in this country,'' Rosales said.

But Enriquez, Selda secretary general, said: ``We can never be silenced until the Marcoses are prosecuted, convicted and jailed for the atrocities they have committed against the Filipinos.'' Citing the Aliens Tort Act, Enriquez said the US jurisprudence would show that the judgment on the class suit was based on the criminal acts committed by the Marcoses.

But Swift explained that the class suit was purely a civil suit that does not involve finding the Marcoses liable for criminal charges.

By Juliet L. Javellana and Christine Herrera