Cops consider ‘age’ in Marcos’ looming arrest

MANILA — The Philippine National Police is taking into consideration the “old age” of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos in assessing whether they should send in advance their men for her impending arrest.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said the police have yet to receive information on the arrest warrant against the Marcos matriarch.

Asked why they have yet to send their men to Marcos, Albayalde said they do not want to “speculate” on the decision, but he added that he had already told the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to be ready if a warrant would be released.

But Albayalde said that when organizing for the possible arrest of the former first lady, they have to take into consideration her age and health.

“We have to take into consideration may edad na kasi. In any arrest or anybody for that matter, that has to be taken [into] consideration, the age, the health, alam naman natin na andyan siya,” he said.

“The former first lady is a very... hindi naman natin sabihin... baka magalit satin ang matanda pero may edad na kasi,” the top cop added.

Last Friday, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division found Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft committed during the regime of her husband, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

In the anti-graft court’s decision, the Sandiganbayan ordered Marcos to serve a total of 77 years as maximum penalty. The case was over seven bank transfers totaling $200 million to Swiss foundations during her term as Metro Manila governor.

However, the arrest warrant might not be executed immediately because Marcos could appeal the ruling, a prosecutor admitted.

“She can elevate it to the Supreme Court if she sees grave abuse of discretion in the Sandiganbayan’s decision. So this is not yet final and executory,” assistant special prosecutor Ryan Quilala told reporters, adding she can also file an application for bail.

Marcos, through her legal counsel, said that they would file a motion for reconsideration against the ruling.

DOUBLE STANDARDS?

Asked about the absence of police in Marcos' case compared to the response when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Albayalde clarified that cops were prepositioned at the Senate as they usually guard it.

“The Senate is being guarded by policemen talaga, not necessarily for Senator Trillanes,” he explained.

Last September, Duterte revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes. In Proclamation 572, the president had ordered the arrest of the senator despite an apparent lack of a court-issued warrant.