Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, out on a P150,000 bail from her conviction of seven counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan, withdrew on Thursday her bid for governor of her family’s home province.
The 89-year-old former First Lady and governor of Metro Manila will be substituted by her grandson, Ilocos Norte Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc, son of incumbent Gov. Imee Marcos, who is seeking a Senate seat, according to election officials.
Mrs. Marcos was found guilty of seven counts of graft by the anti-graft court three weeks ago for allegedly illegally funneling funds to Swiss foundations while her husband, then President Ferdinand Marcos, ruled from 1966 to 1986.
But Marcos had vowed to fight her conviction and would appeal her case with the Supreme Court.
The Sandiganbayan sentenced Marcos to serve from 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s, when she served as Metropolitan Manila governor and minister of Human Settlements.
READ: Marcos tells Sandigan she will challenge guilty verdict