The Sandiganbayan has directed the lead counsel of Ilocos Norte Rep. and former first lady Imelda Marcos to explain his continued absence in court proceedings since his client’s conviction on seven counts of graft on Nov. 9.

The anti-graft court’s top justice will face Judicial and Bar Council to become the next Supreme Court associate justice on December 5.

Citing the “inordinate delay” by the Office of the Ombudsman in investigating and filing the cases, the Sandiganbayan has dismissed the four criminal charges filed against Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores and his wife Ma. Lourdes in connection with their statements of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

For making “fictional” excuses for skipping the promulgation of Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on her case, former first lady Imelda Marcos should be barred from appealing her conviction on seven counts of graft involving $200 million, while remaining free on P150,000 bail, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Elenita Binay, the wife of former vice president Jejomar Binay Sr., has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to seek the dismissal of her graft and malversation cases without presenting any counter-evidence.