Minority Leader Danilo Suarez says he shares the sentiment of human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag in connection with the conviction of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos in seven graft cases at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.
Suarez is one of the congressmen who are against Marcos’ arrest.
“He [Saguisag] said conviction is enough. It’s shameful enough that you are convicted already,” Suarez said.
“He is somehow saying that there is no need to jail the former first lady. She is already 89 years old.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte will not intervene in Marcos’ conviction because he does not tolerate his friends’ wrongdoings.
He said Duterte does not use his position to influence court decisions.
“This President is one of a kind. He does not intervene in such matters,” Panelo told reporters in Singapore as Duterte joined other Southeast Asian leaders for the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
Marcos has apologized to the Sandiganbayan for her inability to show up last week when she was convicted of seven counts of graft, citing health reasons.
Marcos also said she was advised by her doctors to avoid ‘stressful conditions.’
Rep. Lito Atienza said Marcos’ age should be considered.
“If Senator Enrile can be released on the basis of age and health, then the former first lady is also an elderly person. She is 89 and she is not totally that healthy,” Atienza said.
But Rep. Carlos Zarate disagreed.
“Go to the National Bilibid Prison and there are a lot of senior citizens and political prisoners there. Their cases have not been resolved until now. One of them died already,” Zarate said.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan has deferred the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Marcos.
This was after Marcos’ camp filed a motion to avail itself of the possible remedies for the absence of Marcos and her lawyer, Robert Sison, and also asked for a deferment of the issuance of a warrant.
The motion is set for hearing today, Friday.
Zarate, expressed disappointment over the deferment of the issuance of the arrest warrant, saying the victims of human rights violations under Ferdinand Marcos’ administration had been waiting for this conviction for so long.
“We are calling to apply the law fairly as we can see here that there is a special treatment for the Marcos family,” Zarate said.
