Court allows Imelda Marcos to post P300k bail

FILE: Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos with her daughter, Governor Imee Marcos. (Photo by Ilocos Norte/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division keeps former First Lady Imelda Marcos out of jail for a while, as she appeals her graft conviction.

The anti-graft court told reporters on Friday, November 30, that Sandiganbayan justices granted Marcos’s request to avail post-conviction remedies in a resolution dated November 28.

“The Rules allow an accused to continue enjoying provisional liberty during the pendency of an appeal or a motion for reconsideration,” the court said, citing the resolution to the media.

The Ilocos Norte Representative was required to post a P300,000 bail, or double the amount of her original bond.

To appeal her graft conviction, the court allowed Marcos, widow of former President Ferdinand Marcos, to either file a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan or inform the anti-graft court, through a notice of appeal, that she wants to bring her case to the Supreme Court (SC).

“Mrs. Marcos was given 15 days to avail of post-conviction remedies under the rules,” it said.

The former first lady already filed a notice of appeal, requesting the Sandiganbayan to transfer her records to the high tribunal.

But the anti-graft court said Mrs. Marcos’s pleading was “premature” since it had not yet resolved her motion for leave to avail of post-conviction remedies during that time.

[READ: Imelda Marcos wants to bring graft conviction to the SC]

In its resolution, the Sandiganbayan also noted “inconsistencies” on Mrs. Marcos’s explanation on why she did not attend the promulgation of her case last November 9.

Mrs. Marcos initially said she is suffering from “multiple organ infirmities,” but later on changed her tune, saying that she was not aware of the scheduled promulgation.

“Such statements invite leniency on the part of the Court, considering that in the process, Ms. Marcos surrendered and placed herself within the reach and arm of the law,” the court said.

“Penal laws being favorable to the accused, substantive justice necessitates that Ms. Marcos be restored in her standing in court and be recognized to her right to pursue legal remedies against the judgment of conviction,” it added.

The 89-year-old congresswoman was found guilty of seven counts of graft for her alleged financial interests and participation in the management of private Swiss foundations while she was a government official during her late husband’s term.

She was sentenced to six years and one month up to 11 years for each count.

However, the Marcos matriarch was allowed to post a bail bond worth P150,000 last November 16 for her temporary liberty.