Palace: Guilty verdict on Imelda Marcos shows PH justice system ‘favors no one’

The conviction of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos was a manifestation that the Philippines has a justice system that “favors no one,” Malacañang said Friday.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Friday found Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft and was sentenced to imprisonment of from six years and one month up to 11 years when she transferred around $200 million to seven Swiss foundations during her term as a member of the defunct Batasang Pambansa and as then Minister of Human Settlements.

READ: Imelda Marcos guilty of graft, ordered arrested

“We manifest our respect to the decision of the Sandiganbayan finding former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos guilty of the seven out of the ten cases filed against her,” Preisdential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panleo said the government was “not in the business of exerting undue interference or influence in the affairs of another separate and independent branch of the government.”

“While we note that there are still legal remedies available to Congresswoman Marcos, this latest development underscores that our country currently has a working and impartial justice system that favors no one,” he said.

“We treat this decision by the anti-graft court as a good reminder to all public servants that public office is a public trust and that we are all accountable to the people we serve,” he added.

“As servants of the people,” Panelo said, “we must therefore carry out our duties not only with professionalism and fidelity but most importantly, with integrity.”  /muf