By Glee Jalea
The Manila Times-Nov 28
Former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos has notified the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division that she would soon elevate her graft conviction to the Supreme Court.
In the notice of appeal that she filed on Monday afternoon through her lawyer Manuel Lazaro, the wife of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos requested that “the records of the instant case be forwarded to the Supreme Court for further proceedings.”
“With due respect, the Accused (Mrs. Marcos) submits that the Decision convicting her is contrary to facts, law and jurisprudence,” the motion states.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division convicted Mrs. Marcos on November 9 in seven out of 10 graft cases and sentenced her to six years and a month up to 11 years in prison, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office in each case.
She was convicted for participating in the management of several Swiss foundations while she was a member of the interim Batasang Pambansa and minister of Human Settlements from 1968 to 1986.
On November 12, Marcos filed a motion for leave to avail herself of post-conviction remedies and justify her absence during the promulgation of the decision on November 9.
The motion stated that her failure to attend was “solely because she was indisposed,” as she was “suffering from multiple organ infirmities and was under strict orders to refrain from stressful conditions.”
On November 16, the court allowed Mrs. Marcos to post P150,000-bail, giving her temporary liberty while it was still resolving her plea for permission to avail herself of the post-conviction remedies.
The remedies include a motion for reconsideration and bail to evade her six to 11 years of imprisonment for each case.
Mrs. Marcos has not yet filed a motion for reconsideration before the fifth division, which would allow her to elevate the case to the high court once this motion is denied.
‘https://www.manilatimes.net/imelda-to-question-conviction-before-sc/474573/
