Court defers Imelda's arrest after her graft conviction

Imelda Marcos was granted bail a week after being found guilty in absentia.
Imelda Marcos was granted bail a week after being found guilty in absentia.

MANILA • Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos was granted bail yesterday after convincing a court to defer her arrest following her conviction a week ago for massive graft.

The move leaves Marcos free to prepare for what could be a lengthy legal challenge, but will further fuel criticism of special treatment for a politically influential family.

Marcos, 89, famous for hoarding shoes, gems and valuable paintings, posted bail of 150,000 pesos (S$4,000) a week after being found guilty in absentia on seven counts of corruption involving the use of Swiss bank accounts, with the jail sentences adding up to 77 years.

The possibility of her arrest has captured domestic attention, but the anti-graft court has given no explanation as to why it did not issue a warrant for her arrest in the week since the verdict.

Lawyers for the three-term sitting congresswoman have argued that Marcos was unable to attend court because she was suffering from "multiple organ infirmities".

Yesterday, she told the court she was unaware the Nov 9 verdict was even being delivered, and that she first learnt of her jail sentences on television news that afternoon.

She confirmed that she then attended a birthday party that evening, images of which appeared on social media and news websites.

Her late husband, Ferdinand Marcos, ruled the Philippines for two decades, mostly under martial law during which thousands of opponents were persecuted, and billions of dollars were allegedly looted and funnelled into real estate, artworks and offshore banks, and disbursed among a vast network of cronies.

The family was chased out in a 1986 popular uprising, but returned from exile after the former president's death, and re-entered politics in the 1990s.

Marcos intends to appeal the decision and, if denied, she can challenge it at the Supreme Court.

Opponents have complained about what they see as special treatment for a politically influential family that has done no jail time, despite scores of graft cases and the recovery of tens of millions of dollars of assets ruled to be ill-gotten.

President Rodrigo Duterte enjoys good ties with the family and has often praised the late strongman as well as expressed a preference for his son and namesake, Mr Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, to be his vice-president.

Mr Duterte allowed the late strongman's embalmed body to be buried at a special heroes' cemetery in 2016, and the President is often accompanied at official events by Marcos' daughter, Ms Imee Marcos.

Mr Duterte's spokesman last week said the guilty verdict was proof that the executive does not interfere with the judicial branch.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 17, 2018, with the headline Court defers Imelda's arrest after her graft conviction. Subscribe