PINOY HACK

Imelda wins graft case; 75 to go — FORMER First Lady Imelda Marcos wept and whispered a prayer after the anti-graft court yesterday found her innocent of corruption charges in one of the many cases still pending against her.

“I thank the court for acquitting me,” said Marcos, who has at least 75 criminal and civil cases (down from 900) still pending before the Sandiganbayan and other courts.

“I have survived 20 years of relentless persecution. The truth has prevailed,” she said, after the promulgation of the decision of the antigraft court’s Fifth Division.

The Fifth Division, composed of Associate Justices Roland Jurado, Ma. Cristina Cortez Estrada and Teresita Diaz Baldos, also acquitted Marcos’ co-accused Jose Conrado “Jolly” Benitez.

After the ruling, Marcos, wearing a purple skirt, a long tunic jacket and a silk floral scarf with large jade and diamond earrings, went to the nearby St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth Avenue to pray. She later handed out money to street vendors. She was accompanied by Benitez and lawyers Robert Sison and Benjamin Santos.

Marcos and Benitez, then minister and deputy minister of human settlements, respectively, were accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly pocketing money from housing and realty business transactions through the Technology Resource Center Foundation Inc. which they set up in 1977, while still members of the Cabinet.

It was alleged that Marcos and Benitez had business interests in TRCFI when they acted as the foundation’s chairman and president, respectively, in alleged violation of the 1973 Constitution.

The court, however, ruled that state prosecutors had failed to establish “the essential element of the offense charged.” Imelda wins graft case; 75 to go — Make it 1000 yet, still it will be ruled “not guilty”

Continue Reading Inq7.net

Most Viewed: