Imelda can go to US, Europe

The Sandiganbayan allowed yesterday dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ widow, who is being tried on corruption charges, to travel abroad for eye treatment and a religious pilgrimage.

The anti-graft court gave Imelda Marcos 30 days to travel to the United States for medical treatment. The court also agreed that Marcos, a Catholic, could take part in a pilgrimage to shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary in France, Portugal and Italy.

The court said Marcos must return to the Philippines by Oct. 26 and ordered her not to visit any other places, or face arrest and forfeiture of her P120,000 bail bond and P140,000 travel bond.

The 74-year-old former first lady is suffering from glaucoma. She was allowed to travel to the United States for treatment in 2000 and 2001.

She is facing 10 counts of corruption charges and 33 counts of smuggling dollars in connection with Marcos’ US$683 million Swiss bank deposits.

The Supreme Court in July forfeited the Swiss deposits in favor of the Philippine government, saying the Marcoses were unable to show how they lawfully acquired the wealth. But a US judge ordered a freeze on all the Marcos assets earlier this month, sparking an ongoing legal dispute. — AP, Delon Porcalla