GUILTY. Former first lady Imelda Marcos is found guilty of 7 counts of graft for creating private organizations in Switzerland while she was a government official from 1968 to 1986. File photo by Rob Reyes/Rappler
“Wherefore, premises considered, this Court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt…,” said the 5th Division Clerk of Court while reading the verdict on Friday, November 9.
Neither Marcos nor any of her lawyers were present during the promulgation of decision.
The 89-year-old Marcos was sentenced to prison for 6 years and 1 month to 11 years for each case. She is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
By the end of the hearing, 5th Division Chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos also ordered the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Marcos.
But the Ombudsman lead prosecutor, as well as the 5th Division, clarified that because graft is a bailable case, she can have provisional liberty while she is appealing the conviction. Upon payment of bonds, the warrants of arrest will be lifted.