SINGAPORE—President Duterte will not help former first lady Imelda Marcos if she is arrested after her conviction for graft and he may just pay her a visit if she does end up in prison, according to his spokesperson.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte would not meddle and would allow the law to take its course in the case of Marcos, who was convicted last week of graft.
“If you’re his friend, he will help you if you need something, but it ends there. If you end up jailed, maybe he’ll visit you, but that’s it,” he said. “He is angry at violators of the law.”
Panelo added in an interview with reporters on Wednesday night: “He will not interfere. This is a different breed of President. He will not meddle in that affair. So let the courts rule since it’s not yet final.”
Duterte’s spokesperson made the remarks when asked if the President’s closeness to the Marcos family would be a factor should the former first lady be ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan.