Source: Herald Malaysia Online
The Philippines’ anti-graft court has ordered the arrest of Imelda Marcos, widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, after she was found guilty on seven counts of graft.
By: Jose Torres Jr
The Philippines’ anti-graft court has ordered the arrest of Imelda Marcos, widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, after she was found guilty on seven counts of graft.
She was sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of 11 years and a month imprisonment.
The court ruling could prevent Marcos, who is running for governor in Ilocos Norte province in next year’s mid-term elections, from holding public office.
The former first lady, who is currently a member of Congress, can still run next year but will be disqualified if the court ruling becomes final after her appeal.
The 89-year-old Marcos was found guilty of corruption for using her cabinet position during the rule of her husband to maintain Swiss bank accounts.
Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Marcos had offered to return a portion of their so-called ill-gotten wealth, which is estimated between US$5 billion to US$10 billion.
The government has only recovered about US$3.2 billion in the past 30 years.