Former first lady Imelda Marcos makes a rare public appearance in this file photo. (Photo courtesy of Napoleon Ruedas)
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Imelda Marcos, former first lady and mother of the sitting president, in seven out of her 10 graft cases after it found that the testimonies and documentary evidence by the prosecution were “inadmissible and lacked probative weight.”
In a 50-page decision by the First Division on June 10 but made public only on Tuesday, the high tribunal acquitted Marcos, 97, for the prosecution’s “failure to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt” in violating of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The cases were in connection with the Swiss foundations that she and her late husband, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, created and used to stash at least $200 million abroad while she was a member of the defunct Batasang Pambansa, Metro Manila governor and minister of human settlements.
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