Supreme Court approves Imelda’s medical trip

Insisting she is not trying to evade graft charges, former First Lady Imelda Marcos got clearance yesterday to travel abroad and see specialists for the "skull trauma" she suffered in an accident.

Mrs. Marcos, who turns 72 Monday, plans to leave today on a medical trip that will take her to the United States, France and Saudi Arabia – but first she had to post bond of P50,000 and agree to come back.

The Supreme Court said Mrs. Marcos could be gone for up to 45 days, but only to seek treatment for an injury she suffered last year by slipping and falling in a bathroom.

The justices reminded the wife of the late strongman, however, that her "itinerary should cover only the places she mentioned" in her request.

Aside from the bond, another condition imposed was that she should "present herself" to SC clerk of court Luzviminda Puno within five days upon her arrival in Manila, which is expected to be on August 12.

Mrs. Marcos should also show her passport and provide for a photocopy of each page where stamped entry of arrival and exit are indicated, and that this will be "duly authenticated by the clerk of court after comparison with the original."

Mrs. Marcos is known worldwide for her collection of 1,200 pairs of shoes that were discovered after she and her husband, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, fled their palace after being ousted by a popular revolt in 1986.

She recently opened a shoe museum outside of Manila, but is also facing charges of graft, based on allegations of plundering the country’s economy during 21 years of Marcos rule.

The former first lady has been facing the charges for several years, and Philippine courts have previously granted her permission to travel so she could seek eye treatment in the United States and attend social functions in Europe.

In her recent petition to leave, Mrs. Marcos outlined a medical treatment schedule and named the specialists she wants to see. Marcos will spend 25 days in the United States, where she will see a neurologist in New York, before traveling to see more specialists in France and Saudi Arabia.

Marcos said she had no intention to evade justice and she will return on schedule.

Prosecutors are seeking to recover billions of dollars that they describe as ill-gotten Marcos gains, but the Marcos family has denied any wrongdoing. –Delon Porcalla