Imelda Marcos’ health, age to be considered in her arrest: PNP

“As of this time, none yet, even advanced coordination, none. It’s because we don’t want to move in advance or speculate the announcement of the decision for her, but we heard that the decision will be coming out and if they release it, it will be the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) who will lead the arrest.” (PNA file photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said they are taking into consideration the health of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos in complying with the arrest order to be issued by the court.

“Ito, kasi wala tayong nakikitang magiging problema sa kanya dahil unang-una may edad na, babae (In this case, we don’t see any threats with her because first and foremost, because of her old age and because she is a woman),” Albayalde told reporters during the press conference on Monday.

The PNP chief made the remark amid allegations that they are favoring the Marcos matriarch as compared to what they have done in the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes.

Albayalde explained that they have not sent police officers to her door to avoid pre-empting the final order of the court.

“As of this time, none yet, even advanced coordination, none. It’s because we don’t want to move in advance or speculate the announcement of the decision for her, but we heard that the decision will be coming out and if they release it, it will be the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) who will lead the arrest,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde noted that in Trillanes’ case, they enforced preemptive measures pending the issuance of the arrest warrant but clarified that not all police officers deployed at the Senate were tasked to guard the senator.

On Friday, the Sandiganbayan found Marcos guilty beyond reasonable doubt of seven counts of graft due to her “financial interests and participation in the management of private foundations in Switzerland” when she served as a Cabinet official during her late husband’s term.

The anti-graft court also sentenced the former first lady “to suffer the penalty of imprisonment from six years and one month as minimum, up to 11 years as maximum for each count of the graft case filed against her.

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She is also perpetually disqualified from holding any public post.