FORMER First Lady now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda E. Marcos yesterday posted P150,000 bail for provisional liberty after she was found guilty of graft and ordered imprisoned.
Marcos, 89, was convicted last week of illegally funneling about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s when she served as Metro Manila governor while her husband, late President Ferdinand Marcos, placed the Philippines under martial law. She was ordered to serve six to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law.
The court accepted the bond while it decides on her motion to remain free while she appeals the conviction.
“As the Court ordered the forfeiture of the cash bail bonds of accused Imelda R. Marcos in its Order dated Nov. 9, 2018, she was required to post anew cash bonds in the same amount of the forfeited bonds,” the Sandiganbayan said in an order.
“Today, she posted cash bond in the amount of P150,000 under Official Receipt No. 5497607 V dated Nov. 16, 2018, for her provisional liberty. Finding the said bond in order, the same is hereby approved. She may, therefore, be released from the custody of the Court,” the court added.
Marcos appeared before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan in Quezon City, accompanied by her children and grandsons. She said she failed to attend the reading of her verdict because she wasn’t aware of it and also mentioned her frail health.
The presiding judge, Rafael Lagos, noted she was able to attend a birth anniversary party of her daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. Imelda responded by saying that she received a call from daughter Imee who was “crying … (that) all the guests are already there.”
Anti-Marcos activists and human rights victims have welcomed the conviction as long overdue, although there are doubts she’ll be forced to serve prison time given her age and social status.
Supporters, on the other hand, maintained that the Marcos family is innocent of the charges levelled against them. “Kami po ay naniniwala sa mga Marcoses, sa mga ginawa nila sa bayan,” Beth Lopez de Leon, a supporter, said.
The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office, but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision. Her congressional term will end next year but she has registered to run to replace her daughter as governor of Ilocos Norte.
The cases against her were filed in 1991 and took nearly three decades of trial by several judges and prosecutors. She was once convicted of a graft case in 1993, but the Supreme Court later cleared her of any wrongdoing.
Mr. Marcos was ousted by an Army-backed People Power revolt in 1986. He died in self-exile in Hawaii in 1989 but his widow and children returned to the Philippines. Most have been elected to public offices in an impressive political comeback. (AP • CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG)
