MANILA, Philippines—A tearful former First Lady Imelda Marcos on Thursday claimed she was penniless and had to withdraw from her husband’s pension to pay for the travel bond set by the Sandiganbayan for her recent trip to Singapore for a medical check-up.

Speaking to reporters at the anti-graft court, Marcos said she had to withdraw money from the pension of the late president Ferdinand Marcos at the Philippine Veterans Bank, including the P40,000 reward for his medal of valor, to pay for the P750,000 travel bond.

“I have nothing, I have no money ... I saved this and did not touch the money in Marcos’ pension of P4,500 as a retired colonel of the Philippine Award. He also got P40,000 for having the highest award … the medal of valor,” the widow said.

“And I have not touched it, because it is my proof that he was a soldier and a national hero and the most decorated Filipino in World War II. And yet, until now, he hasn’t been buried. This is an injustice. Please, have mercy,” she added.

While the authenticity of most, if not all, of the late dictator’s World War II medals has been disputed, the Marcoses are insisting that he should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

The former first lady was in court Thursday because the Sandiganbayan also required her to appear in person and present her passport within five days after her return to the country. She went to Singapore for an eye check-up.

She has undergone four eye surgeries since she started complaining of blurring vision and pain in her left eye in November 2008, documents submitted to the court showed.

“My children practically kidnapped me and brought me there (in Singapore). I’m very grateful,” she said.

“It is painful that every time I have to leave, even just for medical treatment, I have to pay a P750,000 travel bond. I have no more money,” she added.

Marcos also castigated the government for continuing to prosecute the graft cases against her 23 years after she and her husband were driven out of power.

“Why is this taking so long? When they filed these cases in 1986, I was only 56 years old. In two weeks, I will be 80,” she said.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. What is my crime? Why is it that until now I’m still being prosecuted? Is this really how the justice system works in this country?” she added.

She then went on a spiel about the many infrastructure projects she initiated while she was still in power.

“I did so many projects for this country … the Heart Center, Lung Center, Kidney Center … and I am being punished for it,” Marcos said.

“I just want to help this country. That’s my only goal: to help the poor. Just give me a chance … to love. But why are they doing this to me? I’m the one who’s guilty because I loved?” she added.

When asked whom she was supporting in the 2010 presidential elections, Marcos said she would back “the candidate who will love this country and not his own self.”

“The candidate who is not only about talk … (He or she should) put up or shut up,” she said.

When asked about the anti-Charter change protests, the former First Lady said: “Enough of these protests. Let us unite. Pare-pareho lang naman, maliit ka, malaki ka, duling, pilay—lahat may depekto.”