Imelda’s P150,000 bail gives impression that the rich can ‘get away with it’ — Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday took exception to Sandiganbayan's decision to allow former first lady Imelda Marcos to post P150,000 in bail on Friday pending its ruling on her motion seeking post-conviction remedies.

"Iyong binibigay na impression sa mga tao na kapag mayaman ka pala, kapag mataas na estado sa buhay, ganito na lang kadali. Kapag mahirap, napakasimpleng pagkakasala, iyong binubunong taon sa kulungan napakahaba," Robredo said in a radio program on RMN.

Robredo noted that Marcos has already been given a guilty verdict by the court and yet she was allowed to post bail.

"May hatol na tapos naka-bail pa... Kung hahayaan kasi siya, parang to get away with it, ano iyong mensahe sa mga mahihirap? Na hindi pantay iyong hustisya?" she added.

The vice president earlier expressed dismay over the amount required from Marcos.

"Iyong P150,000 na bail, napakaliit considering the enormity noong ninakaw... barya lang iyon sa kaniya, eh. Barya lang iyong 150,000 [pesos]," she said.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), also earlier pointed out that a person who has been convicted by the court should be immediately sent to jail even if he or she wants to avail of post-conviction remedies.

"Kapag ikaw ay na-convict, ang SOP [standard operating procedure] ay ituloy ka sa kulungan kahit mag-file ka ng motion for reconsideration," Olalia told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

Sandiganbayan Fifth Division chairperson Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, however, previously clarified that the bail is only good until the Sandiganbayan rules on Marcos' motion.

Lagos said the Marcos camp will only await two rulings from the Sandiganbayan: either an approval of the motion and its ensuing order compelling her to post a P300,000 bail, or a denial and a warrant of arrest.

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

Number 8 plate

Aside from the bail, Robredo also noted Marcos's use of a mini-bus bearing a No. 8 plate when she attended a hearing on her conviction in Sandiganbayan on Friday.

"Sinasabi na iyong mga na-issue noong 2013, hindi na iyon puwedeng gamitin pero iyon iyong ginagamit pa rin. Alam mo iyon, parang hindi talaga pantay," she said.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. had already reminded members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to heed the memorandum from the Office of Secretary-General recalling the protocol plate numbers "8" issued during the 16th Congress and earlier.

"Kapag mahirap at walang estado o mababa iyong estado, hirap na hirap makahanap ng hustiya. Pero ito, nahatulan na, ganito," Robredo added.

Marcos, 89, was found guilty of seven counts of graft in connection with her financial interests in Swiss-based foundations during her time as Minister of Human Settlements and interim member of Congress. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News