MANILA, Philippines (Updated 7:09 p.m.) — Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on Wednesday said that, in her opinion, her colleagues at the anti-graft court’s 5th Division did not give preferential treatment to Rep. Imelda Marcos (Ilocos Norte), a graft convict.
During the Judicial and Bar Council’s public interview for the next Supreme Court justice post, lawyer Maria Milgaros Fernan-Cayosa—representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines—asked the anti-graft court’s top justice on the recent conviction of the former first lady.
Tang said: “Personally, I don’t believe that there has been preferential treatment accorded Mrs. Marcos.”
The anti-graft court justice explained that the case against Marcos—involvnig bank transfers totalling $200 million to Swiss foundations—is a bailable case, and even after the court has convicted the accused, they may still be allowed to post bail for provisional liberty.
“The only requirement of the court is the initial amount of bail should be doubled,” she added.
Last week, the court allowed Marcos to avail of legal remedies following her conviction. This, despite Marcos failing to appear at the promulgation of the decision on her case.
Marcos’ lawyer earlier today paid P300,000 for the former first lady’s provisional liberty.
Sandiganbayan Justice Efren dela Cruz also echoed Tang’s explanation.
Dela Cruz, for his part, said that he has handled the case related to the Marcoses before, but the former first lady’s case was decided by a different division.
He explained in the same public interview: “The policy in our court is whenever an accused is convicted of a bailable offense, we require that the accused post a double the amount of the bail and we will allow the accused to enjoy provisional liberty. That has been the policy of our court.”
Division's actions 'proper'
But Tang stressed that, in her view, her fellow justices handling Marcos’ case did what is proper.
“I believe the members of the 5th Division merely exercised what is proper under the circumstances, matters that are addressed to their discretion. I don’t believe that they have abused or much less gravely abused the discretion granted them under the circumstances,” Tang added.
Marcos’ camp also filed a Notice of Appeal urging the Sandiganbayan to forward her court records to the Supreme Court where she would seek a relief on her case.
The Supreme Court has earlier voted to allow the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.