Former Vice President Jejomar Binay was pessimistic that former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos will be jailed, lamenting the three-decade delay in the Sandiganbayan’s decision, convicting the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos for graft.
“Hindi na aabutin ng kulong iyan eh. At 89? Eh ‘yung kaso nga [27] years eh (She won’t get jail time. At 89? Even the case took 27 years),” Binay said in a forum on Wednesday.
“You have to understand [that 27] years ago, ilang justices na ng Sandigan ang may hawak sa kasong ito (You have to understand that 27 years ago, many justices of the Sandiganbayan have since handled this case),” he said.
Binay’s spokesman, Joey Salgado, also said that Mrs. Marcos will definitely appeal the decision, “which will also take some time,” and that “she can still post bail while the case is under appeal.”
Binay, however, believed that talks on President Rodrigo Duterte’s possible granting of pardon to Mrs. Marcos remains speculative at the moment.
Imelda Marcos and former Vice President Jejomar Binay
He noted that the Sandiganbayan’s decision is not yet final since Mrs. Marcos can still file a motion for reconsideration and appeal to the Supreme Court.
“‘Yung pardon ma-e-extend mo lang ‘yun kapag final na. So, lahat espekulasyon iyon (Pardon can only be extended once the conviction is final. So, it’s all speculation),” he said.
Nevetheless, Binay said Mrs. Marcos’ graft conviction cannot be changed in history.
“‘Yung kasaysayan hindi mo na mababago iyan eh. Nangyari na iyan (You won’t be able to change history. It already happened),” he said.
Last November 9, the anti-graft court found Mrs. Marcos guilty on seven counts of graft for channeling US$200 million to seven Swiss foundations when she was Metro Manila governor, Batasang Pambansa member, and Minister of Human Settlement — government positions she held from 1968 up to 1986 while her husband, Ferdinand, was president. /kga
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