In the news again
For megalomaniacs and the power-obsessed, any news is an occasion to be in the limelight once again. Hence, for these types of creatures, whether the news is favorable or critical, what is important for them is seeing their faces splattered, once again, in both local and international media.
On the same day she was convicted, Imelda was seen partying with the present who’s who in this present dispensation. At 89, Imelda is still as imeldific as ever, most likely, during that post-conviction party, wearing and adding yet another new set of shoes to her notorious thousand-plus shoe collection.
The military chief said it is humanitarian not to jail an old person. At 89, Imelda herself does not at all consider herself old. That will be one of the last truths she will admit to herself -- that she is old.
Instead, at 89, she is running to be governor of Ilocos Norte. The Sandiganbayan conviction, if served, disqualifies her from running for any public office, convicted her for seven counts of violation of an anti-corruption law, and sentenced her to prison for six to 11 years. If implemented, Imelda will stay in jail till she is 95 or till she is 101 years old.
Do you think she will ever be imprisoned?
Instead of being remorseful and sorry for all the public funds she, her husband, and their children are charged with stowing away in international banks and foundations, Imelda continues to party.
If she can party and she can run as a candidate, is she not fit enough to be in jail?
That, of course, is what genuine justice means. Despite the decades-long delay, Sandiganbayan found her guilty of corruption and sentenced her to jail. The conviction confirms the truth of our people’s funds funneled for private, family gain.
And the amount is huge. Imelda is accused of stowing into Swiss bank accounts about USD$200 million. The Marcos-stolen amount is more staggering at billions of US dollars. The Philippine government still has a long way to go to reclaim these billion of dollars due the Filipino people.
With Duterte being backed by the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth during his presidential bid, Imelda must be smiling wide, confident that she will never land in jail in her lifetime.
Still, activists and human rights victims applaud and welcome Imelda’s conviction. In the midst of so much delay or failure in justice these days, a conviction against Imelda and the Marcoses is a genuine cause to rejoice. There is justice after all. There are still noble people in the courts and in this country who will stand up for truth, for true justice.
The legal battle will go on. Imelda and her lawyers are ready to appeal this conviction. Expect more decades of this Imelda drama. Meanwhile, she must be gloating and so ecstatic that she sees herself in the news again and again and again.
On the other hand, it is good that she is in the news again. Rather, it is good that the news about their corruption is repeated so that more and more Filipinos, especially the young, will learn the real story about the corruption and the abuse committed by Imelda and Ferdinand, the conjugal dictators, including their children. The more the truth about how much they plundered from our people, from our country, the better so that more will join the ranks of those who will clamor and demand for the return of all the billions plundered by this family from our country.
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