INCONSISTENT EXPLANATIONS
The Sandiganbayan grants a P150,000 bail to Imelda Marcos despite the inconsistencies between her explanation that she was unaware of the scheduled promulgation of the court鈥檚 verdict last week and her lawyer鈥檚 excuse that she had health issues. 鈥擭I脩O JESUS ORBETA
The widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos walked out of the Sandiganbayan on Friday ready to fight what could be another lengthy legal battle to overturn her graft conviction at the end of a 27-year trial after the antigraft court allowed her to post a P150,000 bail amid charges she was being given special treatment.
During a hearing on Friday of her motion for 鈥渓eave of court鈥� that she filed on Monday, former first lady Imelda Marcos was confronted by Sandiganbayan Fifth Division chair, Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, on the 鈥渃ontradictory鈥� reasons she gave for her absence during the Nov. 9 promulgation.
Marcos, 89, famous for hoarding shoes, gems and valuable paintings, was found guilty in absentia of seven counts of graft and sentenced to a maximum of 77 years in prison in connection with Swiss foundations she and her husband established and used to stash more than $200 million abroad while she was serving as a government official.
Arrest 鈥榦vertaken鈥� by motion
Her motion for leave of court is an option under Rule 120 of the Rules of Court for defendants who missed the promulgation of the verdict 鈥渨ithout justifiable cause.鈥�
It is a chance for her to justify her absence so she could get the court鈥檚 consent to move for a reconsideration, seek the deferment of her arrest and apply for bail to remain free while the conviction is not yet final.
If the court affirms its verdict, she could still appeal up to the Supreme Court. The whole process could take years.
During Friday鈥檚 hearing, Lagos said the warrant for Marcos鈥� arrest was 鈥渙vertaken鈥� by her motion.
Dressed in a pink-and-black suit, Marcos was constantly aided while walking. She was accompanied by her children, former Sen. Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, grandsons and a number of aides.
She appeared to be in a good mood, sometimes breaking out in laughter with family members while waiting for the session to begin.
FAMILY AFFAIR Two grandsons of Imelda Marcos, including Borgy Manotoc (left), help her back to her courtroom seat during Friday鈥檚 hearing at the Sandiganbayan. 鈥擭I脩O JESUS ORBETA
Unaware
Lagos and state prosecutors grilled Marcos on the witness stand regarding her reasons for skipping last week鈥檚 promulgation.
Lagos cited the inconsistencies between the affidavit she submitted on Thursday that said she was unaware of the scheduled promulgation and the motion filed on Monday by her lawyer, Manuel Lazaro, who explained that her doctor advised her to avoid 鈥渟tressful鈥� situations because of her 鈥渕ultiple organ infirmities.鈥�
Marcos seemed to have difficulty hearing Lagos and mumbled inaudibly.
Speaking on her behalf, Lazaro said Marcos was both unaware of the notice of hearing and also was indisposed at the time.
Debunking the lawyer鈥檚 claim, Lagos, said Lazaro鈥檚 own motion did not state that Marcos was unaware of the scheduled hearing and that the reason for her absence 鈥溾�� was solely because she was indisposed.鈥�
鈥淐an you tell us now what the real reason is?鈥� Lagos asked Marcos.
鈥淚 did not know (about the scheduled promulgation),鈥� she replied.
鈥淚f I knew, I would have gone,鈥� Marcos said.
She explained that her secretary was on leave and did not see the court notice, thus failing to inform her of the court hearing.
鈥淸The notice] was placed on her desk by the cook. She (the secretary) just found out about the promulgation while watching TV,鈥� Marcos said.
The three-term Ilocos Norte representative admitted she attended a party for her eldest daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, on the night of the promulgaton of the verdict.
鈥楢ll guests are here鈥�
鈥淚 only attended [the party] because it鈥檚 her birthday. She called me up begging, saying 鈥榓ll the guests are here,鈥欌�� Marcos told the court.
Photos from the party that circulated online showed Marcos in the company of two former Presidents鈥擲peaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada鈥擯resident Duterte鈥檚 daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Solicitor General Jose Calida and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
The court rejected the prosecution鈥檚 motion to set a P1.2-million bail bond for Marcos and fixed it to P150,000.
Her family quickly produced the sum and they left less than an hour after the end of Friday鈥檚 hearing.
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 hundreds of millions of dollars of assets聽 that the courts have ruled as ill-gotten.
鈥楢苍迟颈辫辞辞谤鈥�
Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said the antigraft court鈥檚 decision to grant her bail was an obvious case of 鈥渄ouble standard鈥� of justice.
鈥淐learly, it鈥檚 antipoor,鈥� he lamented. 鈥淚f you are rich, you can avoid incarceration. But if you are poor, you might spend the rest of your life in jail.鈥�
Outside the courthouse, about 30 protesters representing groups that fought the Marcos dictatorship denounced the bail and demanded Marcos鈥� immediate incarceration.
About the same number rallied in support of the former first lady, who had also served as Metro Manila governor, member of the Interim National Assembly and minister of human settlements before her family was driven out of Malaca帽ang during the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. 鈥擶ITH A REPORT FROM MARLON RAMOS