Imee Marcos confident mom's conviction will not affect her Senate bid

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos believes that the graft conviction of her mother, former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, will not affect her senatorial bid in the coming May midterm elections.

"Nakita naman natin pasok pa rin ako sa [Top] 12, ako lang 'yung bago doon. Kaya in other words, parang wala na ring epekto sa tao [yung conviction]," Marcos said in Dobol B sa News TV's Ikaw Na Ba? series of senatorial interviews on Tuesday.

Marcos also questioned the timing of the verdict, noting that the case has lasted for over two decades. "Bente-siete anyos na 'yung kaso na 'yun eh wala namang nangyayari. Natulog 'yung kaso biglang inilabas noong panahon ng eleksyon," she said.

"Siyempre hindi magandang balita 'to lalo pag 'yung nilalagay 'yung mukha ko kahit hindi naman kaso ko. Pero ganoon pa man sa palagay ko 'yung mga abogado nagpaliwanag naman ng husto, 'yung nanay ko nagpaliwanag din. Ngayon nasa husgado na," Marcos added.

In November last year, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division found Rep. Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft over her alleged financial interests in Swiss-based foundations during her time as Minister of Human Settlements and interim member of Congress.

Rep. Marcos was sentenced to a minimum of six years and one month to a maximum prison sentence of 11 years for each count of graft and was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

However, the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was allowed to post a P150,000 bail by the anti-graft court pending its ruling on her motion to seek post-conviction remedies.

For Governor Marcos, bearing the surname Marcos is still an advantage nowadays despite the controversies thrown against them; but she also said it comes with hard work.

"Ako ay naniniwala na overall advantage pa rin kahit papaano kilala 'yung pangalan mo pero sa kabila noon, magtratrabaho ka kasi talagang napakahirap," she said.

"May kaaway ka na hindi ka pa pinapanganak... Wala ka pa kamuwang-muwang may nagagalit na sa iyo. Pero dapat magsumikap at extra challenge talaga." —Ana Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News