(Eagle News) – The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth division has found former First Lady Imelda Marcos guilty of seven of 10 counts of graft filed in the court for her alleged financial interests and management of several foundations in Switzerland from 1978 to 1984.
Marcos, who is also the incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, was sentenced to a prison term of six to 11 years for each count, or a total of 42 to 77 years imprisonment.
The Sandiganbayan case first filed in December 1991, or almost 27 years ago, was in connection with her alleged participation in the management of the Swiss foundations, namely Vibur Foundation, Maler Establishment, Trinidad Foundation, Rayby Foundation, Palmy Foundation, Aguamina Foundation, and Avertina Foundation.
She was also accused by the Ombudsman of allegedly funneling the Marcos family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth worth almost $30 million in a bank account at the Banque Paribas despite only declaring a lawful income of $957,487.75 from 1965 to 1985.
This was when Mrs. Marcos was still Metro Manila governor, Minister of Human Settlements, and a member of the Interim Batasan Pambansa.
In August 29 last year, the Office of the Ombudsman, in a 28-page memorandum submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, said the prosecution had proven “beyond reasonable doubt” that Marcos is guilty of graft based documentary exhibits and testimonies of witnesses which were presented during the 26 years that the case was pending.
“From the foregoing discussion, the people certainly had successfully discharged its duty of proving the guilt of accused Imelda Romualdez Marcos beyond reasonable doubt,” it said.
“Hence, a verdict of conviction for the aforementioned crimes is sought for against the accused,” the memorandum added.
Upon the finality of the conviction, Mrs. Marcos will be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
The Sandiganbayan is expected to issue arrest warrants after the decision of conviction against Mrs. Marcos.
The former First Lady was not present during the reading of the verdict. The cases are bailable and can still be appealed.
In September 1993, Mrs. Marcos was also convicted of graft and corruption charges, with a sentence of 18 to 24 years of imprisonment for entering into an agreement for the development of the areas adjacent to the Light Rail Transit stations and the management and operation of the concession areas therein, with the Philippine General Hospital Foundation, Inc. (PGHFI), a private enterprises. The Sandiganbayan’s First Division said that the terms and conditions were “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government.”
She was sentenced along with former Vice-Chair of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) vice-chair Jose Dans.
The Supreme Court, however, acquitted her in October 1998 citing the alleged weak prosecution case and the “procedural aberrations that marred the trial.”
