Imelda Marcos in graft court

2001-10-16 23:54

Manila, Philippines - Arriving in a black Mercedes-Benz limousine and surrounded by bodyguards, former first lady Imelda Marcos surrendered herself on corruption charges to the Philippines' top anti-graft court on Tuesday.

The flamboyant 72-year-old widow of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was earlier issued an arrest warrant on four counts of alleged ill-gotten gains totaling US$352 million.

At court, she submitted her own mug shots, was fingerprinted, and then walked free on 120 000-peso (US$2 400) bail.

The charges stem from alleged money laundering during her time as minister of human settlements in the 1970s, according to court documents.

No money laundering law existed at the time of the alleged crime so the allegations that she funneled US$352 million into private companies and foundations were treated as a corruption case.

Accused of plundering the economy

Marcos has denied all charges. She rode to court in a chauffeur-driven limousine and shrugged off help from court security personnel as she fingerprinted herself, dipping her fingers in ink and rolling them on a blotter.

"This is the ultimate harassment," Marcos, dressed in blue with diamond earrings, told reporters.

"It is so inhumane. It's a persecution of 16 years. So relentless, so cruel."

Asked if she was concerned that she could go to jail, Marcos replied: "I'm not afraid of jail because wherever I am, I will always be at peace with the truth."

"We did not steal," she added.

She told reporters she had become accustomed to court appearances because mounting cases outnumbered "the days of the year." She waved to reporters and strode back into her car, which has a number plate bearing her initials.

The charges she faced on Tuesday are part of a much wider case against Marcos on allegations of plundering the economy while her husband ran the country. She has been facing the charges for several years.

She was convicted in two graft cases in September 1993 but she appealed and won a reversal of the decisions before the Supreme Court five years later. At least 28 graft cases have been filed against her since 1986 and many have been dismissed.

Symbol of excess

Ferdinand Marcos' successor, Corazon Aquino, accused the former president of stealing billions of dollars and ordered many of his assets seized.

Amid allegations of widespread human rights abuses and corruption, Marcos was toppled and driven into exile by the 1986 "people power" revolution that ended his two decades in power.

Marcos died in Hawaii in 1989, without seeing his homeland again after his hasty flight. Mrs Marcos returned to the Philippines in 1990 and ran twice unsuccessfully for president.

She is known worldwide for her collection of 1 200 pairs of shoes that were discovered after she and her husband fled their palace amid the revolt.

In the investigation, more than US$629 million in Swiss bank deposits have been transferred to an escrow account in Manila pending determination of its real owners. Investigators are still working to track down suspected other accounts.

At the height of her power, Marcos gained notoriety for shopping trips to the world's swankiest boutiques, glitzy parties and lavish beautification projects in the midst of the Philippines' extreme poverty.

Her shoes astounded the world and became a symbol of excess. - Sapa/AP

- SAPA