3 senators say there should be no special treatment for Imelda Marcos

At least three senators on Tuesday said no special treatment should be given to former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, who has been convicted for graft, despite her age and health condition.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said Mrs. Marcos, widow of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, should be subjected to the same process that all citizens go through.

“The law should apply equally to all whether it be the high and mighty or the ordinary man on the street,” Pangilinan said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that when a warrant is issued, Mrs Marcos should be arrested.

“If it is an issue whether it’s Mrs. Marcos or another person, whether it’s Senator [Antonio] Trillanes or whoever it is, the issue is, may warrant ba? ‘Yun ang importante doon, may warrant o wala? Kung may warrant, dapat arestuhin. Kung walang warrant, hintayin natin yung warrant. It’s as simple as that,” he told reporters when asked on the matter.

Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, criticized Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde for saying that the police must consider Mrs. Marcos' health and age if ever she is arrested.

“The question on humanitarian and age, I dislike the comment of General Albayalde. He has no business actually commenting on those things because as a member of the police force, they are supposed to either implement the law or to obey the orders of the court,” he said in an ANC interview.

Escudero also said whether or not Mrs. Marcos will be arrested or allowed to post bail is a decision of the court.

“They (police) have to follow the order of the court, and I find it, to say the least, out of place to be commenting in such a thing when everything is in the hands of the court, whether she will be arrested or not and whether she will be allowed to be out on bail or not,” he said.

The Sandiganbayan has found Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft in connection with her financial interests in Swiss-based foundations during her time as Minister of Human Settlements and interim member of Congress.

Marcos, who did not attend the promulgation, was sentenced to a minimum of six years and one month to a maximum prison sentence of 11 years "for each count" of graft.

She is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office. —KBK, GMA News