An opposition lawmaker on Sunday criticized Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos for showing up at the birthday party of her daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, hours after the Sandiganbayan sentenced her to up to 77 years in prison for graft.
鈥淭his is a mockery of the Filipino people who had fought a decades-long uphill battle to bring the Marcoses to account for their crimes,鈥� Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said in a text message.
鈥淕iven that it took decades for her conviction to be (handed down), her arrest is way long overdue,鈥� he added.
Photos of the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos attending her daughter鈥檚 birthday celebration on Friday spread on social media over the weekend, drawing criticisms from netizens.
Hilbay鈥檚 challenge
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay challenged the Philippine National Police to immediately arrest the former first lady and 鈥渟how the same resolve鈥� it had shown鈥� when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of his staunchest critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
He said the PNP鈥檚 failure to implement the arrest warrant against Rep. Imelda Marcos was 鈥渁n indication that the government was serious only in pursuing its critics, but not its allies.鈥�