Explaining her absence at promulgation, Imelda says she 'did not know' about it

Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos on Friday told the Sandiganbayan that she was not able to attend last week's promulgation because she was not aware of it, despite her motion citing health issues as reason for her absence.

"The real reason is I did not really know. If I knew about it, your honor, even if I was sick, I would have come here," Marcos, clutching a brown rosary, said at the witness stand.

Marcos, in her motion, said she was suffering from at least seven illnesses and was advised by her doctor against attending stressful conditions.

However, Marcos said in her affidavit that she had no information about the promulgation since the notice was received by her cook.

Marcos added she was feeling sick on the day of promulgation, noting that she only learned of her conviction for seven counts of graft in the afternoon over the news.

"I woke up in the afternoon already. Then that's when I started calling people," she said.

Inconsistencies

Fifth Division chairperson Justice Rafael Lagos noticed the inconsistencies in the testimony of Marcos and what was stated in her medical certificate.

Lagos mentioned the party Marcos attended on the evening of her promulgation where she was found guilty of seven counts of graft.

“You actually did not know about the promulgation? But the prosecution was saying you attended a party,” Lagos said.

“What is it now? You did not attend because you did not know about the promulgation or you were indisposed?” he added.

Marcos replied she had to attend the party because her daughter, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, was “begging” and “crying” for her to attend the event held in San Juan.

“I only attended, your honor, because my eldest daughter, it was her birthday,” the 89-year-old former First Lady said.

Marcos recalled the house was their former home when she and the late President Ferdinand Marcos got married, but said the property was later vandalized.

Lagos stopped Marcos and said "Please, just answer the question."

'Stayed' warrant

Lagos emphasized that a warrant of arrest against Marcos has been prepared, but said her motion seeking post conviction remedies prevented the Sandiganbayan from releasing it.

He said a warrant would have been prevented if Marcos was present last week.

"The warrant was prepared to be released but your motion stayed that. That would have been prevented if the accused attended the promulgation," Lagos said.

Marcos, through her counsel former Government Corporate Counsel Manuel Lazaro, requested for a leave of court which would allow her to challenge the Sandiganbayan decision, defer the issuance of a warrant, and pay a post conviction bail bond.

The Sandiganbayan granted the temporary freedom of Marcos, through a P150,000-bail, pending decision of her motion.

"If we approve, we will order her to post bail double the amount. If we deny, then wala na, we will issue a warrant," Lagos said.

Marcos was accompanied by her children, Imee Marcos, former senator Bongbong Marcos, and Irene Marcos, as well as grandchildren Borgy and Mike Manotoc, and Luis Araneta, throughout the proceedings. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News