Maximo Hilao, Class v. Estate of Ferdinand Marcos, and Imelda R. Marcos Ferdinand R. Marcos, Representatives of the Estate of Ferdinand Marcos

Imelda R. Marcos and Ferdinand R. Marcos, substituted under Rule 25 as representatives of the Defendant Estate of Ferdinand E. Marcos (“the Appellants”), appeal from orders of the district court holding them in contempt.- We affirm.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND & PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This appeal arises out of post-judgment orders in a case involving nearly 10,000 class plaintiffs (referred to hereinafter collectively as “Hilao”) who suffered (or are family members of those who suffered) torture, “disappearance”, and summary execution during Ferdinand E. Marcos’ tenure as president of the Philippines. In 1991, anticipating that Hilao would succeed on the merits, the district court entered a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Defendant Estate, and its agents, representatives; aiders and abettors from disposing of any assets of the Estate. Hilao subsequently obtained a verdict of liability and an award of nearly $2 billion in damages. The district court’s final judgment of February 3, 1995 made the preliminary injunction permanent.

In January of 1995, Hilao moved for contempt, claiming that agreements made in 1992 between the Republic of the Philippines and Imelda Marcos and Ferdinand R.…