Imelda Marcos: 'I’m old and penniless'
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/11/2009 4:15 PM
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Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, once touted as one of the world’s 10 wealthiest women, tearfully told reporters at the Sandiganbayan Thursday that she is scraping the bottom of the barrel to raise money for her travel bonds so she can seek treatment abroad for various ailments.
“It is painful that everytime I have to leave for medical treatment, I have to pay P750,000 travel bond. I have no more money left,” the 79-year-old widow of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos said.
Only last March, Mrs. Marcos was listed by Newsweek as one of the world’s greediest people, saying: “She took $5 million shopping sprees to New York and Rome, reportedly owned the world’s largest collection of gems and 3,000 pairs of shoes.”
In front of cameras Thursday, she brandished a green passbook saying she had to withdraw funds from the Philippine Veterans Bank containing her husband’s pension as a retired soldier.
“Iniipon ko ito, di ko ginagalaw yung pera sa pension ni Marcos. He received P4,500 as retired colonel of Philippine Army; P40,000 for having the highest award… the medal of valor. And I have not touched it, because it is my proof that he was a soldier and a national hero and the most decorated Filipino in World War II. Pagkatapos hanggang ngayon hindi pa naipalibing. This is an injustice. Maawa naman po kayo,” the former First Lady said.
Mrs. Marcos showed up in court in compliance with the conditions of her travel permit granted by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division last May 27 requiring her to personally appear before the Clerk of Court to present her passport within five days of her return.
She flew to Singapore last June 2 for treatment on her failing eyesight but said her planned operation had to be postponed at the advice of her doctors.
She said it was her children, former Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta, who paid for her trip and her hospital bills.
“My children practically kidnapped me and brought me there (in Singapore). I’m very grateful,” she said.
The Marcos widow has to secure a travel permit from the graft court each time she has to go abroad because of her pending 10 graft cases on allegations that she held financial interests in secret foundations and private enterprises while she was a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1984.
She protested the slow progress of her trial noting that her cases have been dragging in court for more than two decades.
“Why is this taking so long? When they filed these cases in 1986, I was only 56 years old. In two weeks I will be 80! Justice delayed is justice denied. Ano bang kasalanan ko? Maawa naman kayo sa akin,” she lamented.
Mrs. Marcos insisted that she did not commit any crime and had in fact worked hard for the welfare of the people.
“I did so many projects for this country, Heart Center, Lung Center, Kidney Center… and I am being punished for it. Bakit hanggang ngayon kinakastigo ako. Ganito ba talaga ang judicial system sa ating bansa? Bakit ako ginaganito? Ano ba ang naging kasalanan ko? Minahal ko kayong lahat,” she said.
Mrs. Marcos said she will only support a presidential candidate who will prove his love for the people – in action, not just words.
“I will support the candidate who will love this country and not his own self. Hindi lang puro salita. Put up or shut up. Tama na ang protesta. Magsama-sama na lang tayo. Pare-pareho lang naman, maliit ka, malaki ka, duling, pilay – lahat may depekto,” she added.
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