If Imelda Marcos is strong enough to run for governor, then she is strong enough to spend time in prison. After the Sandiganbayan found the 89-year-old widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos guilty of seven counts of graft, her senility and political power should not be turned into an excuse to run away from punishment.

 

It is not new for politicians to use legal benefits for the elderly for their own political gain, it is a power susceptible to abuse for Filipino politicians who are often seniors. We can look at the case of 94-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile who argued that he was too old when his nonbailable offense was committed so he deserved bail.

 

The Supreme Court agreed because of his age and health, yet he still has the audacity to run for the 2019 elections. The same scenario is observed for Marcos, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said that her “age” and “health” will be “taken into consideration” before she serves any jail time. Marcos even stated seven ailments to justify her claims. We can recognize the impunity taking place, because the same “consideration” did not apply to 79-year-old Ricardo Castro who was imprisoned in 2012 for stealing a small bag of chocolates worth P36 that is nothing compared to the $680 million worth of secret deposits the Marcoses stashed abroad.

 

Neither she nor her lawyer appeared in the Nov. 9 hearing and one consequence is that the court must order her arrest but authorities have not moved to arrest her, hinting that there really is a double standard for her. She even took her case up to the Supreme Court already, where the new Chief Justice voted to bury her husband in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

 

The case of Imelda Marcos reveals an unfair justice system. Citing senility for protection is for frail people who need special treatment – not for those who are in power yet disregard legal principles and still have the audacity to run for office. The cases filed against Marcos were filed in 1991. 27 years and over five administrations later, justice finally had the chance to catch up in some way. This is only part of the hundreds of cases filed against the Marcoses yet Imelda managed to not spend a single day in prison. We cannot let them escape from accountability now – not ever.