Imelda posts 1150-K bail
Former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos appeared before the anti-graft court yesterday morning and posted a 1150,000 bail while the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division resolves her motion to availherself of legal remedies.
Marcos, 89, was convicted last week of illegally funneling about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s when she served as Metropolitan Manila governor. She was ordered to serve a prison term from 6 to 11 years for each of the seven counts of violating an anticorruption law.
"As the Court ordered the forfeiture of the cash bail bonds of accused Imelda R. Marcos in its Order dated November 9, 2018, she was required to post anew cash bonds in the same amount of the forfeited bonds," the order issued Friday read.
"Today, she posted cash bond in the amount of 1150,000 under Official Receipt No. 5497607 V dated
November 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.
The bail is only for Mrs. Marcos’ temporary liberty as she seeks the court's permission to be allowed to post new bail while she appeals her conviction.
"If we approve (the motion), we will order her to post double the bail amount. If denied, then walana (no more). We will issue a warrant," Fifth Division Chairperson Rafael Lagos explained during the hearing.
Marcos’ motion has been submitted for resolution, together with her affidavit and the prosecution's comment.
Why the no-show In her affidavit, Marcos revealed she has seven medical conditions which require chronic medical care and surveillance. These are diabetes mellitus-type 2 with poorly controlled blood sugar levels, hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, status mini strokes, sensorinureal hearing loss, chronic recurrent urinary tract infection, chronic recurrent gastritis and multiple colon polyps, and recurrent respiratory tract infection.
A day before her scheduled promulgation, Marcos suffered high blood pressure, pain and dizziness which kept her from getting a good night's rest.
"Due to the fatigue I suffered from the night before, which was compounded by the effects of my medication, I woke up later than usual on November 9. Despite feeling groggy, I managed to turn on the television and it was only then that I learned about the scheduled hearing," she explained in her affidavit.
Her counsel, lawyer Robert Sison, she said would often inform her about the court hearings and would ride together to court. But this time around, Sison failed to do so because of his own medical problems.
Marcos learned that she had been provided a copy of the Notice of Promulgation, so she inquired her staff about it.
"It turns out that an envelope from the Court was received by my cook and she placed the same in the room of my secretary, Shirley Torio. Unfortunately, Ms. Torio was not with me that week because she had to return to the province to attend the funeral of her aunt," she narrated.
Taking the witness stand, Mrs. Marcos said she learned about her conviction while watching television. Justice Lagos asked the former First Lady the true reason for her absence – was it her sickness or the fact that she was not notified about the promulgation. After repeating the question several times, Marcos finally answered, "I did not really know."
"If I knew about it, your Honor, I would have been here right away. Even if I was sick, I would have come here," said Marcos, who was accompanied by her grandsons, fashion model Borgy Manotoc, lawyer Mike Manotoc, and Luis Araneta.
She begged for the court's understanding over these "unfortunate circumstances." Marcos said it was never her intention to "ignore or disobey" the notices of the court.
Marcos shared she even had qualms about attending the birthday party of her eldest daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on the day she was convicted. But her daughter reportedly called and was “crying and begging” her to attend.
Fiction
The Office of the Ombudsman tried to poke holes at Mrs. Marcos' excuses in their comment/opposition. It said her doctor has a "colorful imagination" and the "strict orders" to stay away from stressful conditions is a work of "fiction."
"Accused Marcos is the incumbent Representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte since 2010. She occupies a very stressful position in the government for a patient suffering multiple organ infirmities and yet her doctor did not 'urge' her to step down," the opposition read.
The prosecution hit Mrs. Marcos for filing her certificate of candidacy for governor of Ilocos Norte in the 2019 elections, since she would have to go through the "rigors and severities" of the campaign.
The prosecution said Mrs. Marcos "forgot" about her doctor's orders and "determinedly attended the 63rd birthday party of her daughter...in high spirits and unperturbed at the old Marcos residence in San Juan."
While the former First lady was posting bail, scores of Marcos supporters trooped to the Sandiganbayan Friday to express their supportand denounce the political persecution of the Marcos family.
One of the leaders of the Marcos supporters, Beth de Leon, underscored the unparalleled achievements of the Marcos administration, which she said remain unsurpassed in terms of infrastructure and social development programs.
Another supporter, Rosinda Bato of Tondo, Manila, became emotional as she expressed indignation over the lies being spewed by anti-Marcos critics led by left leaning candidates in next year’s midterm elections.
Also present were the former mayor of Asuncion, Davao del Norte Dr. Robinson Raiz and his wife JesusaRaiz from Paoay, Ilocos Norte.