Anti-Marcos group protests delay in issuance of arrest warrant vs. Imelda Marcos

A group of anti-Marcos activists trooped to the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday urging the anti-graft court to issue the arrest warrant against former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos following her graft conviction.

Members of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) held a short program in front of the Sandiganbayan building in protest of the delayed warrant against Marcos.

"While we welcome the guilty verdict against Imelda, justice should come in full circle. Imelda should be arrested and be put behind bars," SELDA chairperson Trinidad Herrera-Repuno said.

Several Martial Law victims also joined the rally, including Felix Dalisay who was a torture victim.

Dalisay said it pains him to see Marcos enjoying her freedom despite the ruling of the Sandiganbayan finding her guilty for seven counts of graft.

"Kami bilang mga biktima ng panahon ng martial law na nakatikim ng torture, napakasakit sa amin ngayon na makita si imelda na hindi pa rin naaresto sa kabila ng kanyang conviction," Dalisay said.

"Di kami titigil hangga't walang hustisya. Dapat makulong yan, matikman niya kung paano ang buhay sa loob ng kulungan," he added.

Marcos faces at least 40 years of imprisonment, plus a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, for allegedly funneling public funds to seven Swiss-based foundations to benefit her family.

The Sandiganbayan also ordered her and her lawyers to explain why they were absent during the promulgation last week.

An arrest warrant has yet to be issued against Marcos two calendar days after her conviction. Her legal team, however, filed a motion seeking "post conviction remedies" that will be heard on Friday.

Martial law victims Danny dela Fuente and Pido Gonzales urged the Marcoses to admit to their crimes, or at least to return their alleged ill-gotten wealth.

"Paano magtitiwala ang taong bayan kung hindi ikukulong si Imelda? Ang pangalawang kahilingan ngayon, kahit hindi pa ikulong si Imelda, isauli niyo ang mga ninakaw ninyo sa kaban ng bayan," Dela Fuente said.

"Napatunayan na namin na ang hustisya ay biased din. Dapat niyong pagbayaran yan at ibalik yung mga ninakaw niyo. Yan ay patuloy nilang tinatanggi na wala silang ninakaw. Talagang lalong masakit sa kalooban namin na hindi man lang tanggapin ang kanilang pagkakasala," Gonzales, for his part, said. — MDM, GMA News