MULTIMEDIA

Will Imelda Marcos go to prison?

Editorial cartoon by Maverick Pesigan

Share Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

That the wheels of justice turn really slow in the Philippines was again shown with the conviction for 7 counts of graft of former First Lady Imelda Marcos by the Sandiganbayan.

It took 27 years for the Philippines' justice system to hand down its ruling which imposed a penalty of 6 to 11 years imprisonment for each count of graft.

But few believe the late dictator's wife, who is 89 years old, will ever be imprisoned.

For one, the case isn't over since Mrs. Marcos will be filing a motion for reconsideration. And even if the Sandiganbayan upholds the ruling, Mrs. Marcos can still file an appeal before the Supreme Court. She is also entitled to bail while her appeal is being heard.

It's good to recall Mrs. Marcos' first conviction by the Sandiganbayan. She was also found guilty for graft in 1993 over allegedly anomalous contracts between the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRT), where Mrs. Marcos served as chairman during the Marcos regime, and the Philippine General Hospital Foundation.

But 5 years later, she won her appeal and got acquitted by the Supreme Court.

Thus, expect Mrs. Marcos' lawyers to continue doing a great job at slowing down the wheels of justice for their client.