By Ben Rosario
The Sandiganbayan came under fire Friday as opposition lawmakers slammed its decision to grant bail on convicted former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
In separate press statements, critics in the House of Representatives chided the anti-graft court’s ruling as a glaring evidence of “double standard” of justice in the country.
“Very double standard! Very shameful of the high magistrates of the Sandiganbayan bowing down to the high and mighty Marcoses for the whole world to see,” said Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.
Rep. Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay) said the grant of the post-conviction bail to Marcos “does not liberate her as a prisoner of her own conscience.”
“No conscience is so callous as not to be afflicted by guilt and remorse,” stated Lagman.
Akbayan Rep.Tom Villarin noted that Marcos “is having the best of all worlds” as she partied while the decision of her conviction on seven counts of graft was being read by the anti-graft court.
Now, the former first lady is citing her advanced age and health conditions to evade the long prison term that the Sandiganbayan imposed on her.
“Imelda Marcos is having the best of all worlds partying with gusto, rubbing elbows with the high and mighty, and now running as governor that is a 24/7 job and would likely result to her immediate death. So why allow her to bail and engage in such a strenuous work in politics,?” asked Villarin.
Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the grant of bail “would mean that justice would against have to wait.”
"This also shows the seeming double standard in the Philippine justice system,” he stated.
The Sandiganbayan has granted a P150,000 cash bond bail for Marcos as her lawyers asked for leniency while they prepared their appeal for a reversal of the anti-graft court’s ruling.