Senators warned the Arroyo administration Wednesday against entering into “midnight deals,” including the sale of the so-called “Imelda (Marcos) jewels” which they said should be left to the disposition of the new government.

The warning was issued after reports said that the Palace expressed support to the pronouncement of Presidential Commissioner on Good government (PCGG) Commissioner Ricardo Abcede to auction the multi-billion pesos worth of Imelda’s jewelry collection.

Senate minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. warned the Arroyo government about the plan to auction the expensive jewelry of former First Lady Imelda Marcos which he said should be left to the next administration to avoid suspicion.

Senator Francis Escudero and Sen Francis Pangilinan also cautioned the Arroyo government about the plan to dispose of those Imelda jewels which were seized by the Philippine government from the Marcoses when they fled the country in 1986 following a People Power revolution.

The Arroyo government should restrain itself, out of propriety and courtesy, from entering into “midnight deals.” Further, let prospective bidders or buyers be forewarned that these transactions may be nullified and declared illegal later, Escudero said.

Pangilinan said that the government is not a business going bankrupt wherein it undergoes a sale where everything must go.