Imelda Marcos’ lawyer told to explain absences

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has directed the lead counsel of Ilocos Norte Rep. and former first lady Imelda Marcos to explain his continued absence in court proceedings since his client’s conviction on seven counts of graft on Nov. 9.

In an order dated Nov. 16 – the same day Mrs. Marcos was allowed to post P150,000 bail – the court’s Fifth Division asked lawyer Robert Sison to explain his failure for the second time to appear before the court to represent his client during a brief hearing on her plea to be allowed to appeal her conviction and post bail.

Copies of the court order were made available to reporters only yesterday.

The court asked Sison to be ready with an explanation – within five days from receipt of notice – or face penalty.

Sison and Mrs. Marcos both failed to attend the promulgation of the decision on her graft case.

The court allowed the widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos to post bail of P150,000 on Friday after forfeiting an earlier bond she posted in 1991. The court forfeited the original bail bond when she and her lawyer failed to show up for promulgation of her case on Nov. 9.

While allowing her to post bail, the court has withheld ruling on her motion to avail herself of post-conviction remedies including the filing of a motion for reconsideration on her conviction.

At last Friday’s hearing, Mrs. Marcos claimed she was too ill on promulgation day and that she had never been informed of it in the first place.

She claimed she had tried to call Sison but the latter could not be reached as he was reportedly confined at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City due to high blood pressure.

Retired Court of Appeals justice Manuel Lazaro, Mrs. Marcos’ new collaborating counsel, accompanied her at last Friday’s hearing, but it was clarified before the court that Sison would remain her lead counsel. – With Delon Porcalla