MANILA – It is too early to speculate if President Rodrigo Duterte will grant pardon to Imelda Marcos, who the Sandiganbayan convicted for graft, Malacañang said.
But any recommendation to pardon Marcos will be considered, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.
Marcos, wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is a representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte and running for governor of the province in the May 2019 midterm elections.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division convicted Marcos for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This perpetually disqualifies her from holding any public office.
She was charged with having pecuniary interest in and participating in the management of several foundations despite a constitutional prohibition during her time as a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa.
“Analysts from some sectors have raised the concern of the possibility of the President granting pardon to (Marcos) following the decision of the Sandiganbayan. Such issue not only is speculative but premature as well,” said Panelo.
“The President has the constitutional authority to grant pardon to persons convicted by final judgment. It is not so in the case of Congresswoman Marcos, the decision of the anti-graft court not having attained finality,” he added.
Panelo added: “In granting pardon to convicts, the President will consider the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Parole, an office under the Department of Justice [that] looks into the records and studies the circumstances of the person in order to evaluate the latter’s eligibility and entitlement of the President’s act of grace.
“As matter of course and policy, the President, like his predecessors, weighs in all factors before exercising his right to grant clemencies.”
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the graft charges against Imelda Marcos in December 1991. The Sandiganbayan ordered her detention for six years and one month up to 11 years for each count.
Imelda Marcos was minister of human settlements from 1976 to 1986 and concurrent Metro Manila governor from 1978 to 1984 when she transferred around $200 million to seven Swiss foundations.
This was the second Sandiganbayan conviction of her. She was also ordered arrested by the anti-graft court in 1993 for two counts of graft. The former first lady was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 1998.
AGE AND HEALTH
Meanwhile the Philippine National Police said they will consider the age and health of the former first lady when they enforce the Sandiganbayan’s order to arrest her.
“May edad na kasi. We have to take into consideration the edad, the age,” said Director General Oscar Albayalde told a news conference Monday.
“In any arrest, anybody for that matter, that has to be taken into consideration: the health, the age,” the PNP chief said.
Albayalde assured that the PNP will “accord” Marcos “the same respect” it did Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who a court earlier ordered arrested for a coup charge.
“We have custodial facilities that are always ready to accommodate itong politicians or other high-ranking officials of the government,” he said.
Vice President Leni Robredo slammed Albayalde’s statement, saying Imelda Marcos was partying with daughter Imee when the Sandiganbayan’s verdict was released last Friday.
“Patunay lang naman ito na, unang-una, marami talagang krimen na naganap noong panahon ng rehimeng Marcos,” said Robredo.
“Ito kasi, lalo na kapag eleksyon, parati itong dine-deny. Naging isyu ito noong eleksyon; parating sinasabi wala naman daw conviction. Ito, ang pakiramdam natin, hustisya ito para sa mga naging biktima ng martial law,” she added.
Robredo said the process may take some time if Imelda Marcos files an appeal but hoped the Supreme Court upholds the Sandiganbayan’s ruling.
“Mali iyong sinasabi nila na dahil lampas na nang 70 years old, hindi na makukulong kasi ito lang naman ay isa sa mga mitigating circumstances under sa Revised Penal Code na bababaan iyong hatol dahil sa edad,” Robredo said.
“Nakakapunta pa nga sa Congress, nakaka-kandidato pa bilang gobernador, hindi siguro dahilan para hindi dapat ikulong…Kung kaya pang mag-party, kaya pang lumagi sa kulungan,” added the vice president./PN
