Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate on Friday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately arrest former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, saying “jail has long been waiting for her and their cronies.”
Colmenares, who was imprisoned and tortured during martial law, also asked government not to give Marcos any VIP treatment.
“She cannot avail of the probation law because the penalty carried by her case is more than 6 years,” the lawyer said.
“Dapat kagyat na hulihin at arestuhin na ng mga pulis si Imelda ngayon. Kapag mga aktibista at progresibo hinuhuli agad at tinataniman pa ng mga ebidensya o di kaya ay pinapatay pero kapag mga makapangyarihan tulad ng mga Marcoses, binebeybi,” he added.
Zarate meanwhile said this decision “puts to rest the Marcos family’s contention that they have not amassed ill-gotten wealth nor plundered the country’s coffers during their reign.”
“Many would be happy with this decision but it would be better if the Marcoses also return all their ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people,” he added.
Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin for his part warned the 89-year-old Marcos against invoking age or humanitarian grounds for her not to serve the sentence.
“She should be arrested and photos of her being brought to justice made public. As a sitting member of the House of Representatives and now running for governor in Ilocos Norte, she can’t have the best of all worlds,” Villarin stressed.
Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago also rallied for the “swift implementation and arrest of Imelda” and “for vigilance from the public against attempts of the regime to overturn the decision.”
“We likewise call on everyone to hold the rest of the Marcos family accountable for perpetuating and repeating their parents’ crimes as they seek to once again amass power and wealth in their incumbent positions and in the upcoming elections,” she added.
The call of the solons came after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found the wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos guilty of violating R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when she transferred around $200 million to seven Swiss foundations during her term as Batasang Pambansa Member and Minister of Human Settlements.
READ: Imelda Marcos guilty of graft, ordered arrested
She is sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month up to 11 years for each count of graft and ordered arrested but she can still post bail as graft is a bailable charge.
Her camp can also file a motion for reconsideration or appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court. /muf