Imelda camp to file motion for reconsideration
MANILA, Philippines — The legal counsel of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is planning to file a motion for reconsideration following the conviction of the former first lady.
Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has found Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft, ordered her arrest and perpetually disqualified her from holding public office.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, Marcos said retired Court of Appeals Justice Manuel "Lolong" Lazaro will act as her counsel as her attorney of record Robert Sison has been indisposed.
READ: Money trail: Marcos billions and where to find them
"Justice Lolong Lazaro, who has previously appeared as counsel in this case, will act as my counsel in the interim. He is presently studying the decision and has advised us that he intends to file a Motion for Reconsideration," Marcos said.
Assistant special prosecutor Rey Quilala earlier confirmed that Marcos can avail of legal remedies such as filing a motion for reconsideration following her conviction.
This means that the Sandiganbayan's arrest order against her may still be lifted as the decision is not yet final.
Marcos has been sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month to 11 years for each count of graft or a total of 42 years and seven months to 77 years.
The court ruled that she violated Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits government officials from having direct or indirect "financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest."
The Sandiganbayan 5th Division finds former first lady and current Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft for using her Cabinet position to maintain Swiss bank accounts during the Marcos regime.
She is sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month to 11 years for each count with perpetual disqualification from public office.
The decision came nearly three decades since it was filed in 1991 by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Sandiganbayan has granted the request of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos to post bail and file post-conviction remedies, which include elevating her graft conviction to the Supreme Court.
The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court rules it is premature of Rep. Imelda Marcos (Ilocos Norte), former first lady of the Philippines, to appeal her graft conviction before the Supreme Court.
JUST IN | The Sandiganbayan rules as “premature” the appeal of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos seeking the reversal of her graft conviction before the Supreme Court. (via @PhilippineStar / Michael Punongbayan) pic.twitter.com/06HABMzhW7
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 27, 2018
Earlier Tuesday, Rep. Marcos had filed a notice of appeal at the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division asking it to forwards the records of her case to the Supreme Court.
This, despite her pending motion before the court for leave to avail of post-conviction remedies.
Imelda Marcos and her children Imee and Bongbong refuse to answer media queries on the Sandiganbayan's finding that they benefited from the money traced in the private Swiss foundations used to funnel ill-gotten wealth.
Mrs. Marcos and her children Imee and Bongbong refused to answer media queries on the Sandiganbayan's finding that they benefitted from the money traced in the private Swiss foundations @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/OX7NYqUC1j
— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) November 16, 2018
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Associate Justice Lagos also grilled Imelda Marcos over the sudden change of her reasons for failing to attend the promulgation. Marcos initially claimed that she failed to attend the proceeding because she was "indisposed" due to "multiple organ infirmities."
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the court yesterday, however, Mrs. Marcos claimed that she failed to attend the promulgation as she was not aware of it. — Elizabeth Marcelo
Imelda Marcos was confronted by Sandiganbayan 5th Division chairman Associate Justice Lagos about attending her daughter Imee's birthday party on the night after she was convicted. She said Imee was "crying and begging" her to attend the party. — Elizabeth Marcelo
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