Singapore: The Singapore high court has blocked an appeal by the Philippine government to reclaim $25 million in assets amassed by former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Court documents showed on Tuesday that the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court decision that the Philippine government must prove it owns the assets.

The funds, which are part of about $658 million that Marcos held in various Swiss bank accounts, are held in a Singapore branch of Germany's WestLB.

The funds have rival claimants including victims of human rights abuses, four foundations and a corporation.